Tracing the Bali Bombings 1.12 October 2002
On October 12, 2002, the world community was shocked by the suicide bombing in Kuta, Bali. This incident was eventually referred to as the Bali Bombing I. This incident involved several terrorist groups and various backgrounds.
One of the reasons behind the Bali Bombing I was a revenge plan from the events in Ambon and Poso. In this case, the terrorists took revenge because many Muslims were killed as a result of the conflict. Not only that, Bali was chosen as the bombing site because Bali has international appeal and the world view will be more focused on Bali than other areas in Indonesia.
As for the perpetrators of the first Bali Bombings, they are also members of the Darul Islam (DI) network—the successor organization to the Indonesian Islamic State (NII). Ali Imron, one of the perpetrators of the Bali Bombing I stated that the plan was to detonate the bomb exactly 1 year after the WTC tragedy, September 11, 2002. However, Amrozi, who was also involved in the action, did not accept Ali Imron's wish because he did not have sufficient preparation.
As is known, the perpetrators involved in the Bali Bombing I were Ali Imron, Amrozi, and Imam Samudera. The head of the Bali Bombing I investigation team, I Made Mangku Pastika, in an interview with Tempo on November 10, 2002, said that Amrozi admitted to being the perpetrator of the incident that killed up to 202 people.
"He admitted to being the perpetrator of the Bali Bombings. He said he went with three people on October 5, 2002. Two people drive the Vitara, while he rides the L300. When he arrived in Bali, someone picked him up there," he said.
Regarding explosives, Amrozi admitted to getting them from a chemical shop in Surabaya. Based on the report of the East Java Regional Police's Economic Investigation Section, they inspected two shops; Tidar Kimia on Jalan Tidar and Aneka Kimia on Jalan Waspada, Surabaya. As for the number of explosives, Amrozi admitted to buying 100 Kg of ammonium chlorate and added other chemicals—the total explosives amounted to 1 ton.
For the location of the Bali Bombing I, there are 3 different places. The places are Sari Club and Paddy's Pub which are located in the Kuta area, as well as near the United States Consulate Office. While the majority of victims in the first Bali Bombing were Australian tourists and Balinese people.
The bombs that exploded at the Sari Club and Paddy's Pub occurred simultaneously, at 23.05 WITA to be exact. Meanwhile for the explosions at the American Consulate Office occurred 10 minutes after the explosions in the two previous places.
The bomb that went off at Paddy's Pub was kept in a backpack, and it became a suicide bomber for the culprit. As for the second bomb, it was stored in a Mitsubishi Colt L300 car parked in front of the Sari Club. This bomb exploded a few seconds later. The explosion in front of the Sari Club left a hole 3 feet deep. The location of the Bali Bombing I, there are 3 different places. The places are Sari Club and Paddy's Pub which are located in the Kuta area, Bali, and near the United States Consulate Office. While the majority of victims in the first Bali Bombing were Australian tourists and Balinese people.
The bombs that exploded at the Sari Club and Paddy's Pub occurred simultaneously, at 23.05 WITA to be exact. Meanwhile for the explosions at the American Consulate Office occurred 10 minutes after the explosions in the two previous places.
The bomb that went off at Paddy's Pub was kept in a backpack, and it became a suicide bomber for the culprit. As for the second bomb, it was stored in a Mitsubishi Colt L300 car parked in front of the Sari Club. This bomb exploded a few seconds later. The explosion in front of the Sari Club left a hole 3 feet deep.
One of the reasons behind the Bali Bombing I was a revenge plan from the events in Ambon and Poso. In this case, the terrorists took revenge because many Muslims were killed as a result of the conflict. Not only that, Bali was chosen as the bombing site because Bali has international appeal and the world view will be more focused on Bali than other areas in Indonesia.
As for the perpetrators of the first Bali Bombings, they are also members of the Darul Islam (DI) network—the successor organization to the Indonesian Islamic State (NII). Ali Imron, one of the perpetrators of the Bali Bombing I stated that the plan was to detonate the bomb exactly 1 year after the WTC tragedy, September 11, 2002. However, Amrozi, who was also involved in the action, did not accept Ali Imron's wish because he did not have sufficient preparation.
On October 12, 2017, exactly 15 years after the Bali Bombing I, dozens of people took turns laying flowers at the Bali Bombing Memorial, or Ground Zero Monument, in Kuta. Chusnul Chotimah—one of the victims—said, "Maybe I fainted. When I woke up, I saw a big fire," he said, remembering the incident. He has permanent disabilities in his face and hands. Protruding scars or keloids every night interfere with sleep because they cause itching.
