2002 Bali bombings

At 11:05pm (1505 UTC) on October 11 2002 an electronically triggered bomb ripped through Paddy's Bar. Driving the dead and injured out into the street where ten to fifteen seconds later, a second much more powerfull car-bomb in a white Mitsubishi van exploded in front of the Sari Club. Windows throughout the town of Kuta on the Indonesian occupied island of Bali were blown out. The most recent figures indicate that 187 people have been killed and 210 injured. Now claimed to have been aimed at Americans, the majority were Australian holiday makers; 75% of the casualties are said to have been overseas holidaymakers. As of Oct. 16, 2002 the nationlalities of the dead or missing were thought to include Australian, Indonesian, American, Ecuadoran, French, German, British, Japanese, Dutch, New Zealander, Singaporean, South Korean, Swedish, Swiss, and Taiwanese. Additionally Italy, Finland and Belgium reported injured citizens.

According to various sources including the Australian government, principal suspects for this terrorist atrocity are a group seeking to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia, Jemaah Islamiyah, although it could equally be the work of al-Qaeda. In any case, Jemaah Islamiyah is alleged by various governments in the region to have links with al-Qaeda.

The Indonesian chief of police, General Da'i Bachtiar said that the bombing was the "worst act of terror in Indonesia's history". Other Indonesian ministers have stated their belief that the blasts are somehow related to al-Qaeda.

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, (also spelt Bashir) a muslim cleric believed by many to be among the leaders of Jemaah Islamiyah and wanted in Singapore and Malaysia, held a news conference on October 12 to deny any involvement. In a number of statements he denied that it had been perpetrated by Indonesians and blamed the USA for exploding the bomb, claiming that it was impossible for Indonesians to contruct such a sophisticated device.

The bomb device was first considered to be made of C-4 plastic explosive. However, on October 21 investigators of the scene disclosed that the main bomb was made of ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer agent and easily available in Indonesia, while C-4 is a military grade product and difficult to get.