2021 Makassar Cathedral Bombing

On 28 March 2021, around 10:28 local time, an explosion occurred outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral (Gereja Katolik Hati Yesus yang Mahakudus) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, while a Palm Sunday service was underway inside. The blast occurred at the cathedral's southeastern gate, near the intersection of Thamrin and Kajaolalido streets, close to the Makassar City Police headquarters and City Hall. It was the first church bombing in Indonesia since the May 2018 Surabaya church bombings.

According to police, two perpetrators riding a Honda Beat motorcycle intended to enter the cathedral grounds but were stopped by police outside. When asked to dismount, the blast occurred. South Sulawesi regional police described the incident as a suicide bombing, and National Police spokesman Argo Yuwono said there were two perpetrators. Human remains were found at the scene, and the two attackers were the only people killed; 20 other people were injured. CCTV footage showed pedestrians and a passing car moments before the explosion.

Indonesian authorities identified one of the bombers, a man, within hours of the attack, describing him as a member of a terrorist cell linked to a 2019 attack on a cathedral in Jolo, Philippines. The second perpetrator, a woman, was under examination and both identities were confirmed by police the following day. The pair had been married for six to seven months prior to the bombing and were confirmed as members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). Police recovered a last will and testament written by the husband prior to the attack, describing the bombing, farewell messages, and stated willingness to die as a martyr. Following the bombing, police apprehended a number of the perpetrators' associates across Indonesia. Terrorism scholar Al Chaidar had earlier attributed the attack to JAD, the group also linked to the Jolo attack.

On 30 March 2021, National Police stated that the perpetrators and associates in South Sulawesi had belonged to a JAD study group and had pledged allegiance to ISIL's proposed caliphate at an Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) office in South Sulawesi. Raids across the country, including in Condet, Serangbaru, and Bima, recovered FPI uniforms, membership materials, five unexploded but armed improvised explosive devices, and explosive precursor materials described as sufficient to produce up to 70 bombs. On 27 April 2021, Munarman, former FPI general secretary, was captured by police in connection with the investigation; a subsequent raid on the former FPI headquarters in Jakarta recovered documents and materials described as explosive precursors. His trial, closed to the public under terrorism law, was held on 8 December 2021.

The attack drew condemnation from Indonesian religious, civic, and political figures, including Nahdlatul Ulama, Amnesty International, Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, and President Joko Widodo. On 31 March 2021, an armed assailant attacked National Police headquarters in Jakarta and was shot dead by police.