The bombing happened outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Makassar, the oldest church in the city, while a Palm Sunday service was being conducted inside.

[17] Prior to the action, the husband signed a last will and testament – which subsequently found by the police during a raid on their house – saying about the bombing, farewell messages, and willingness to die as an Islamic martyr.

It was found that they were joined same JAD's majlis ta'lim (study group) and also pledged allegiance to ISIL's proposed caliphate at one of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) office in South Sulawesi.

Police also revealed the presence of a JAD's study group that involved in determining target, mapping, and planning of the bombing.

[20][21] Nearly one month after the bombing, on 27 April 2021, former FPI General Secretary and Muhammad Rizieq Shihab's close confidante, Munarman, captured by Police.

[23] He also charged by police to be involved with "bay'ah" of terrorists' group and their pledge of allegiance to ISIL in Makassar, Jakarta, and Medan terror networks.

[27] During raids on various places such as in Condet (East Jakarta), Serangbaru (Bekasi Regency), and Bima, the police found numerous banned organization Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) uniforms, apparels, and membership cards.

FPI itself was an Islamic fundamentalist organization led by Rizieq which had been banned by the government in December 2020 for declaring support for ISIL.

Aside of this, based from the confessions, Islamic supremacism, nativism, anti-corporatism, and anti-China sentiment elements also take part as the motive of the bombing.

While he was captured in afternoon in his residence, police subsequently launched raid to former FPI headquarters at Petamburan III St., Jakarta.

[38][39] Alissa Qotrunnada [id], the eldest daughter of former president and democracy activist Abdurrahman Wahid, offered her condolences and condemned the attack as a "wound of the nation".

[43] Makassar mayor Ramdhan Pomanto urged people to stop sharing photos and video footages of the explosion.

[48] The chairman of Islamic fundamentalist group 212 Movement Alumni, Slamet Ma'arif, also condemned the bombing and called on the public not to speculate on the motive of the attackers.

He claimed that the attack had nothing to do with religion, so the public should instead focus on Muhammad Rizieq Shihab's trial and the police's December 2020 killing towards members of the Islamic Defenders Front.