According to East Java Police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera, the bombings killed two at the Pentacost Central Church, one at the Indonesian Christian Church and three at the Santa Maria Catholic Church.

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Indonesian police said that at least six people were killed and 35 others were injured in consecutive bombings targeting three churches in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province on early May 13. Photo: nst.com.my

St. Maria was the site of the first blast, which occurred at 7.30am (local time) on May 13, before blasts at 7.35am and 8am, the state-run news agency Antara quoted him as saying.

Police said that the attacks were conducted by suicide bombers and they ordered the closure of all churches in Surabaya.

The Islamic State (IS) claimed the responsibility for the bombings. However, the Indonesian police rejected the IS involvement in these cases.

Wawan Purwanto, spokesperson for the country's intelligence agency, said the bombings were suspected to have been carried out by the ISIL-inspired group Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD).

Churches have been targeted previously, including near-simultaneous attacks on churches there at Christmas in 2000 that killed about 20 people.

Source: VNA