Bali Marks 24th Anniversary of 2002 Terrorist Bombings

Mourners gathered at the Bali Bombing Memorial in Kuta, Indonesia, on Monday to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the 2002 terrorist attacks. The bombings, which targeted nightlife venues frequented by tourists, resulted in the deaths of 202 people from over 20 countries, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians. Participants laid flowers and held prayer services to honor those lost in the tragedy.

Survivors and families of the victims used the anniversary to renew calls for justice, specifically regarding the long-delayed prosecution of Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali. An alleged senior figure in the Jemaah Islamiyah network, Hambali has been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2006. Survivors have expressed frustration over the pace of the legal proceedings and have requested greater transparency, including the possibility of live broadcasts for future trials. American military commission specialists reportedly visited the memorial site ahead of the anniversary to address concerns raised by those affected by the attacks.