One dead, six others injured in suspected suicide bombing attack

A man has died and at least six people have been injured in what appears to be a suicide bombing attack at the front of an Indonesian police station.

Indonesian police examine a body of a suspected suicide bomber at their headquarters in Medan, North Sumatra. The attack occurred about 12.45pm AEDT. Picture: Albert Damanik / AFP

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Police in Indonesia’s city of Medan are on high alert, and at least six people have been injured, after a suicide bomber attacked their headquarters.

The incident occurred about 8.45am local time (12.45pm AEDT) and follows Indonesia’s Chief Security Minister being stabbed by a suspected Islamic State sympathiser at Pandeglang, in Banten province, a month ago.

Indonesian police examine the body of a suspected suicide bomber at their headquarters in Medan. Picture: ATAR / AFP

While the motive for today’s attack is currently unclear, Indonesia – the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country – has suffered a resurgence in homegrown militancy in recent years.

The incident also follows authorities shooting and arresting a militant who attacked officers at a Surabaya-base station in August, and a man being seriously wounded after trying to blow himself up outside a police building on Java island in June.

Indonesian police secure their headquarters in Medan, North Sumatra, after the attack. Picture: ATAR / AFP

National police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said today’s attacker, who managed to get past a guard post and into the yard of Medan city police station, detonated explosives and died when confronted by officers.

Indonesian police securing their headquarters in Medan, North Sumatra. Picture: ATAR / AFP

Police confirmed the blast happened in a car park near an area where people were going for clearance letters from police.

Those who were injured in the attack include four officers and two civilians.

Originally published as One dead, six others injured in suspected suicide bombing attack