Bali Bombing Memorial Site is located on Jalan Legian opposite the corner of Poppies II. The names of the 202 civilians lost during the terrorist attack on the 12th of October in 2002 are inscribed on a huge wall decorated by ornante carvings. Among the casualties were 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians, 27 Britons, 7 Americans, 6 Swedes and 3 Danes and a further 209 people were injured during the attack.
Members of Jemaah Islamiyah, a violent Islamist group, were convicted of the crime of leading attacks which involved the detonation of three separate explosive devices, a suicide bomber with a backpack, a large car bomb (both in Kuta) and another small bomb (outside the US Consulate in Denpasar). Three members of the extremist group were sentenced to death in relation to this atrocity.
Previous to the attack the site housed a venue called Paddy’s Bar, a popular ex pat watering hole where many tourists would also come to spend the evening. On the opposite side of the road was the Sari Club, a prominent nightclub also completely destroyed in the bombings and to this day it is still a vacant lot. After the attack occurred and as a direct result of the situation, tourism really suffered in Bali and many visitors became fearful of returning as there were heavy travel warnings put in place by the Australian and other international governments.
Every year on the anniversary of the this horrifying attack, people from all over the world, including family and friends who lost loved ones and also many of those who were injured, make the pilgrimage to the Bali Bombing Memorial Site to light a candle, pay their respects and share stories.
While visiting the site, it is asked that you remain silent and respectful to show that you are honouring the memory of the victims. Flowers and notes are also sometimes left by those who were directly touched by this truly awful event.
