Two people have died and at least 14 were injured in a bomb attack on the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar on South Sulawesi in Indonesia on 27 March 2021. Wire service reports state two men attempted to enter the cathedral compound on motorbikes at 10:30 am local time as the main Palm Sunday mass at the church was concluding, but were refused entry by security guards. A bomb exploded shortly thereafter injuring 14 people, and killing the alleged bombers. Body parts were reported to have been spread across the parking lot and adjacent street, with several cars and buildings damaged in the blast. Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the Religious Affairs Minister of the Muslim majority country, has condemned the attack and urged police to increase security measures at places of worship.
It was fortunate that only the bombers were killed. Security forces prevented them from entering the cathedral. I have worshipped in Christian churches guarded by security with rifles. We think of this as a Muslim-majority country phenomenon, and it is; yet here in the US, Jews celebrate their high holy days with armed security, and sometimes their routine Sabbath services, too.