Suicide bomb attack at Indonesia church injures 20

JAKARTA: A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a church on central Indonesia's Java island on Sunday, injuring at least 20 people, officials said. El Shinta radio cited police and witnesses as saying the bomb exploded just after the completion of services at the Kepunton church in Solo town.
Djihartono, a police spokesman, told local media that only the bomber had been confirmed dead, but that several other people were injured in the attack.
He told MetroTV that the explosion, which damaged parts of the church, was heard as far as 550 yards (500 meters) from the church. ``The body of the dead one, believed to be the suicide bomber, is lying in the main entrance,'' said Djihartono, who like many Indonesians uses just one name.
Bambang Sumartono, an official at Dr. Oen hospital, said that 20 people, including a child, were admitted to the hospital, but that many of them were only slightly injured.
Witnesses said they believed the perpetrator was not a church member.
``He walked about 4 meters (yards) behind me,'' Abraham, a churchgoer, told El Shinta radio. ``I believe he was disguised as a churchgoer.''
Indonesia, which has more Muslims than any other nation, has been battling terrorists since 2002 when al-Qaida-linked militants attacked two nightclubs on Bali island, killing 202 people, mostly foreigners.