Hundreds of mourners and survivors of the Bali Bombing, along with families and friends of the victims, gathered in Indonesia today to mark the 20-year anniversary of the attack.
The Island is a popular holiday destination and attracts tourists from around the world, especially Australia. Two bombs took place on the tourist Island of Bali on October 12 2002, killing 202 people.
The attack killed people from 21 countries. Most were foreign holidaymakers, including 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians and 28 Britons. The incident was Southeast Asia’s deadliest terror attack.
One of the explosives was a car bomb outside the Sari Club in Bali’s Kuta Beach area and another took place simultaneously at the Paddy’s Bar across the road.
Since then, the three Bali Bombers - who were part of an al-Qaeda-linked group - were detained for playing a major role in the attack. Later they were sentenced and executed in November 2008.
To commemorate those lost, a ceremony took place including peace prayers and the symbolic release of 20 birds. As well as a memorial that took place at the area of the blasts, reported by Reuters.
Ni Luh Eraniati lost her husband in the attack and attended the morning prayers in Bali with her children.
She told Reuters: "The memorial for us is to remember, to remind everyone there was a terrorist attack there and that we don't want it to happen again."
Vigils will be continuing throughout the day in Bali, including a commemoration by police and a minute's silence near the site of the blast. The sounds of horns will follow the silence to mark the time the explosion took place.
Australians are also gathered in major cities to remember the victims lost in the blast.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albenese, spoke at a ceremony saying: "What they struck they could not defeat because what they struck at was the idea of us, the great fabric of dreams and ideals and compassion and fairness that make us who we are as Australians."
The House of Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle also offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the victims' families, earlier today.
He said: “I just wanted to mark a poignant anniversary.
“Exactly 20 years ago today, 202 people including 28 Britons were killed in the Bali Bombings. These horrific bomb attacks were organised to cause maximum carnage, leaving 100s of families and friends shocked and grieving.”
“I would like to express my heartfelt and best wishes from us all here, from the House of Commons to the survivors, family and friends.”
In the wake of the attack, Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim majority country has set up an elite anti-terrorist unit called Special Detachment or Densus 88.
The Unit has been praised and criticised for their role in arresting and killing convicted militants.
