This inclusion is puzzling, but it is essential to remember the tragic events of this day in 2002. It serves as a reminder that we must never allow the terrorists to emerge victorious.
On this very date in 2002, the tranquility of Kuta, a town on the Indonesian island of Bali, was shattered by three bomb blasts. The attacks, executed by militant Islamist terrorists, claimed the lives of 202 individuals and left over 200 others with injuries, many suffering from severe burns. The assaults shocked not only the local residents but also those who knew Bali as a peaceful and welcoming paradise, primarily inhabited by Hindus.
The most catastrophic explosion took place when a massive bomb, weighing approximately 1,200 kilograms, was detonated in a van outside the Sari Club nightclub. This devastating explosion created a sizable crater in the ground and reportedly shattered windows in buildings all over the town. Many victims were young tourists vacationing on the island, with the majority hailing from Australia. Among the deceased were thirty-eight Indonesians, predominantly Balinese.
Additionally, two other bombs were detonated on that fateful day: one packed in a backpack exploded in a bar, while another was set off on the street in front of the American consulate. It is believed that all three attacks were orchestrated by the regional militant Islamist organization Jemaah Islamiah, which is thought to have connections to al-Qaida. Jemaah Islamiah has also been implicated in the bombing of a Marriott hotel in Jakarta in 2003, the Australian embassy in Indonesia in 2004, and the suicide bombing of three restaurants in Bali on October 1, 2005. The latter incident resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, including the bombers, and left over 100 others injured.
Indonesia holds the title of the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
