A memorial service has been held on the Indonesian island of Bali to mark 21 years since a series of bomb attacks killed about 200 people.

On October 12, 2002, members of the Southeast Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah detonated several bombs in tourist areas on the island, killing 202 people.

On Thursday, bereaved family members and others gathered at a monument to mourn the victims.

One of the survivors, Thiolina Ferawaty Marpaung said, "I hope this service continues into the future so that younger people will understand what this monument stands for."

A researcher of the University of Indonesia, Ridlwan Habib says threat of extremism still exists in the country.
Referring to the ongoing fighting between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, he said he is concerned that the incident could trigger similar attacks in Indonesia. Ridlwan said, "So-called 'lone wolf terrorists' might be inspired to carry out a similar attack in Indonesia against what they view as Israeli proxies in our country."

He added the country needs to take urgent measures to prevent another terrorist attack.