Sword-wielding militant attack in Indonesia, 5 killed

International Desk: Indonesian police have shot dead four sword-wielding men who attacked a police headquarters in Sumatra, killing one officer, the latest in a spate of militant attacks across the Muslim-majority country.

The four men used samurai swords to attack officers at Riau police headquarters in Pekanbaru, Sumatra, national police spokesman Setyo Wasisto said.

He said the men had driven their car into the police yard before getting out to stage the attack.

Two officers were wounded while another was killed after one of the perpetrators tried to escape and crashed into the officer, he said.

"The one who escaped has been captured and secured at Pekanbaru police station," Mr Wasisto said.

Mr Wasisto said a journalist who had been at the police station was also hurt after being hit by the car.

Earlier, an internal police report said one of the dead men had a suspected bomb strapped to his body.

TV footage showed one man lying on the ground with a long sword next to his body and an armoured car stationed outside the police station.

The perpetrators have not been identified or a motive determined.

In a message carried on its Amaq news agency, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack comes after a series of suicide bombings by Islamist militants targeting churches and a police building in Indonesia's second-biggest of city of Surabaya over the past few days.

 

Source: Agencies

 

risingbd/Dhaka/May 16, 2018/A K Azad