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.