About seven blasts and multiple gunfights has
hit the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday, January 14, including
one outside the United Nations building in the centre of the capital,
leaving at least seven people dead.
Jakarta police spokesman Colonel Muhammad Iqbal said seven people
including four attackers were killed, adding that the gun battle took
place in a cinema housed in the same building as the Starbucks.
According to the local Metro TV, 14 gunmen were involved in the attack, which started around 10.30am local time.
There were reports that as many as six attackers remained inside. With an active fight ensuing, it was unclear if subsequent blasts originated from the attackers or police.
The Guardian reports that Risky Julianti, 25, a sales promoter at the
Sarinah Mall, said she heard at least five more blasts and saw three
people dead.
Julianti who had just arrived at work and was changing into her uniform when the first explosion went off, said: “The building was shaking heavily when the blast happened. An office boy shouted ‘bomb, bomb’ and we quickly ran out to a church nearby,” she told the Guardian.
“I was very panicked and I was crying. We heard the blasts as we were running to the church.”
A UN regional representative, Jeremy Douglas, said that he was
getting out of his car by the UN office when a “massive bomb” detonated.
“Chaos & we’re going into lock-down,” he said on Twitter. “Apparent suicide bomber literally 100m from the office and my hotel. Now gunfire,” adding that he heard six explosions and an ensuing gunfight between police and the attackers.
An unknown number of people were injured following the attack at Sarinah shopping complex on Thamrin street in the centre of Jakarta.
At least four of the gunmen were among the dead and at least one policeman was killed.
A Dutch national, who was working for the United Nations, was severely injured, Dutch media reported. Earlier reports said the man had died in the attack.
All six blasts occurred about 50 metres apart in the central business district, which also houses a United Nations office.
The Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has ordered security forces to hunt down the perpetrators and their network behind the attacks in Jakarta.
Widodo who is on a working visit in West Java town of Cirebon, said: “I have received reports some time ago about the explosion in Thamrin street Jakarta. We express condolence to those who became victims, but we all also condemn the attack that caused restless among the community.”
He said he had ordered the national police chief and the minister for political and security affairs to hunt down and capture the perpetrators and those in their network. Jokowi said he was cutting short his visit and returning to the capital.
In a television statement, the president said: “This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people”
Meanwhile, Indonesia police have said that the threat is over and the area which was under attack has been secured. Five assailants confirmed dead, AP reports.
Al Jazeera reports that the attacks come two days after jailed Islamic leader Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to a court to have his conviction for funding a “terrorist training camp” overturned.
The 77-year-old leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network filed a judicial review of his 2011 conviction, when he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for setting up the camp in Aceh province. A higher court later cut the sentence to nine years.
It is estimated that 500 to 700 Indonesians have joined the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and the government has expressed concern their return home could spark attacks. Separatist groups also operate in the country.
Indonesia police swinging into action after the attackers opened fire.
According to the local Metro TV, 14 gunmen were involved in the attack, which started around 10.30am local time.
There were reports that as many as six attackers remained inside. With an active fight ensuing, it was unclear if subsequent blasts originated from the attackers or police.
The Guardian reports that Risky Julianti, 25, a sales promoter at the
Sarinah Mall, said she heard at least five more blasts and saw three
people dead.Julianti who had just arrived at work and was changing into her uniform when the first explosion went off, said: “The building was shaking heavily when the blast happened. An office boy shouted ‘bomb, bomb’ and we quickly ran out to a church nearby,” she told the Guardian.
“I was very panicked and I was crying. We heard the blasts as we were running to the church.”
“Chaos & we’re going into lock-down,” he said on Twitter. “Apparent suicide bomber literally 100m from the office and my hotel. Now gunfire,” adding that he heard six explosions and an ensuing gunfight between police and the attackers.
An unknown number of people were injured following the attack at Sarinah shopping complex on Thamrin street in the centre of Jakarta.
At least four of the gunmen were among the dead and at least one policeman was killed.
A Dutch national, who was working for the United Nations, was severely injured, Dutch media reported. Earlier reports said the man had died in the attack.
All six blasts occurred about 50 metres apart in the central business district, which also houses a United Nations office.
The Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has ordered security forces to hunt down the perpetrators and their network behind the attacks in Jakarta.
Widodo who is on a working visit in West Java town of Cirebon, said: “I have received reports some time ago about the explosion in Thamrin street Jakarta. We express condolence to those who became victims, but we all also condemn the attack that caused restless among the community.”
He said he had ordered the national police chief and the minister for political and security affairs to hunt down and capture the perpetrators and those in their network. Jokowi said he was cutting short his visit and returning to the capital.
In a television statement, the president said: “This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people”
Meanwhile, Indonesia police have said that the threat is over and the area which was under attack has been secured. Five assailants confirmed dead, AP reports.
Al Jazeera reports that the attacks come two days after jailed Islamic leader Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to a court to have his conviction for funding a “terrorist training camp” overturned.
The 77-year-old leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network filed a judicial review of his 2011 conviction, when he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for setting up the camp in Aceh province. A higher court later cut the sentence to nine years.
It is estimated that 500 to 700 Indonesians have joined the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and the government has expressed concern their return home could spark attacks. Separatist groups also operate in the country.
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