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Bombings at three churches in Surabaya, in Indonesia's East Java province, during Sunday mass on May 13 have left at least eight people dead and many injured, with the attacks carried out by suicide bombers, according to the police.
Three people were killed at the Santa Maria Church in the Ngagel Madya area of Indonesia's second-largest and busiest city, while one died at the Surabaya Centre Pentacostal Church. Two more people were killed at the GKI Diponegoro Church.
East Java provincial police spokesman Colonel Frans Barung Mangera told reporters a total of 38 injured victims from the attacks have been sent to hospital.
East Java provincial police chief Inspector General Machfud Arifin told reporters outside the Santa Maria Church that, according to preliminary investigation, the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, who separately used motorcycles or cars.
Inspector General Machfud also said that among the dead at Santa Maria church were a worshipper and a policeman. He did not give an update on the casualties at the other two churches.
A planned attack on a third church, Cathedral Church, was foiled with the arrest of a suspected bomber.
A police bomb squad also safely detonated an unexploded bomb that was discovered at the Surabaya Centre Pentacostal Church.
"All elements were quickly deployed to all vital places, especially places of worships. Three churches were attacked. Police arrested a person that was about to attack the otherwise a fourth target, the Cathedral Church. It has been foiled," Surabaya deputy mayor Mr Wisnu Sakti Buana told to media.
eye witnesses and local residents as saying that the bombings all occurred at around 7am.
Graphic video footage and photographs from the site of the Santa Maria Church bombing showed several injured people lying prone on the ground and a boy covered in blood being carried away. The road outside the church was blocked. The bomb was probably detonated at the gate of the Santa Maria Church .