Access needed to investigate blast at Islamic boarding school

Jakarta, NU Online
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has ordered the chief of the Umar bin Khatab Islamic boarding school in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, to open access for police to investigate a blast in the area.

"Do not hinder the police to investigate the scene," he said after installing echelon I and II officials at his office here on Tuesday (12/7).

The minister said no one in the country may hinder police from investigating a case including in an Islamic boarding school. He said the blast that happened in the school had to be immediately investigated.

"Investigation must be carried out," he said as quoted by Antara.

In connection with that he called on his ministry officials in the region including officials of the boarding school in Sila in the district of Bolo, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, to immediately take steps to open the access for the police to conduct the investigation.

Police in the region have arrested 11 people allegedly connected with the incident at around 3.30pm on Monday (July 11).

"Indeed a bomb has exploded in the boarding school belonging to cleric Umar bin Khatab and 11 people have been arrested in connection with it today," National Police head of public relations division Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Tuesday.

Besides arresting 11 people the police have also confiscated some arrows and machetes.

Anton said students of the boarding schools had rejected the police to come into the school to investigate the incident.

The blast has left a teacher of the school, Suriyanto alias Firdaus dead.

Anton said based upon initial assumptions self-made bombs had been prepared for attacking police. "Therefore the police have even been driven away," he said. (dar)