Post by SA Hunter on Jan 14, 2016 19:12:14 GMT 8
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-14/jakarta-bombing-suspected-civilian-terrorists-dead-after-attack/7089218
Five attackers, including two suicide bombers, are dead after a terrorist attack in central Jakarta, Indonesian police say.
A foreign national and a police officer were also believed to have died, taking the death toll to seven, Deputy National Police Chief Budi Gunawan said.
Seven explosions rocked the area, including one at a Starbucks cafe in the city centre, near a cluster of embassies and the United Nations offices.
Authorities said the policeman was killed in a suicide attack on a police booth on the median strip of one of Jakarta's busiest roads, before shots were fired at bystanders.
Jakarta police said a Canadian was killed in the attack.
Two attackers were killed in a shootout with police, while two others were suicide bombers, Mr Gunawan said.
Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said five police personnel, one foreign civilian and four Indonesian civilians were injured.
He said that the situation was now under control.
Police spokesman Iqbal Kabid said a gunfight between the attackers and police took place in a cinema that is in the same building as a Starbucks cafe.
Bodies were seen lying in the streets as security forces moved in, with reports of gunfire and warnings of snipers in the area.
Police earlier said the blasts were caused by grenades, not bombs.
Todd Elliot, a terrorism expert in Jakarta, said his police sources indicated none of the attacks were suicide bombers, contrary to other reports.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the blasts were "acts of terror".
"Our nation and our people should not be afraid, we will not be defeated by these acts of terror, I hope the public stay calm," he told MetroTV.
"We all are grieving for the fallen victims of this incident, but we also condemn the act that has disturbed the security and peace and spread terror among our people."
Police said they believed the attack was inspired by Islamic State and that the attackers were connected to a terror cell that was disrupted just before Christmas.
National intelligence agency chief Sutiyoso said there were no indications Islamic State militants were behind the attack but said "this is definitely terrorism".
One witness filmed the moment one of the blasts took place, in a car park out the front a commercial building.
Indonesian media reported at least one of the explosions was caused by a suicide bomber.
The ABC's South-East Asia correspondent Samantha Hawley said armoured trucks, the head of intelligence and bomb squad officers had joined police at the scene of the blasts.
Earlier, officers at the scene told AFP news agency reporters to "get back" because there "is a sniper" on the roof of a building.
Editor-in-chief of the Jakarta Post, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, said the targeted area was quite popular.
"It's less than one-and-a-half kilometres to the palace, it's basically where the centre of government is," he said.
"Five hundred metres away is the central bank building, you have multiple government buildings, major, major centre of government area."
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said officials in Indonesia were making enquiries to determine whether Australians had been involved in the attacks.
Ms Bishop said the Australian Government condemned the attacks, and that she had spoken to her Indonesian counterpart and offered any support the country may need to respond to the attacks.
Attorney-General George Brandis issued a statement saying the "Government has offered law enforcement and intelligence assistance to Indonesia" following the attacks.
Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, tweeted: "All Australians should stay clear of these areas, limit their movements and follow the instructions of local authorities."
Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull tweeted: "Australians' thoughts, prayers and resolute solidarity are with the people of Indonesia as they respond to the terrorist attacks."
United Nations regional representative Jeremy Douglas, speaking to the ABC from the UN office in Jakarta, said the building was in lockdown.
He said he had been in a car when the first blast went off.
"We got out of the car and we heard a second bomb. Then we heard a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and then gunfire in the street. A lot of gunfire," he said.
Some other buildings in the area were also evacuated.
Starbucks said all of its stores in Jakarta would remain closed until further notice.
What we know:
•Several initial blasts struck central Jakarta shortly before 3:00pm AEDT
•Bombs were thrown at a popular Starbucks cafe, then a suicide bombing at a police checkpoint
•Blasts struck outside the Sarinah shopping centre and the UN's country office
•Shots were fired outside Starbucks as security forces moved in
•Police say five suspected attackers are dead, including two suicide bombers
•A foreign national and a policeman are also believed to have been killed
•Police said the attackers were part of the terror cell from Solo and in communication with Syria
•Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!!!!!
Five attackers, including two suicide bombers, are dead after a terrorist attack in central Jakarta, Indonesian police say.
A foreign national and a police officer were also believed to have died, taking the death toll to seven, Deputy National Police Chief Budi Gunawan said.
Seven explosions rocked the area, including one at a Starbucks cafe in the city centre, near a cluster of embassies and the United Nations offices.
Authorities said the policeman was killed in a suicide attack on a police booth on the median strip of one of Jakarta's busiest roads, before shots were fired at bystanders.
Jakarta police said a Canadian was killed in the attack.
Two attackers were killed in a shootout with police, while two others were suicide bombers, Mr Gunawan said.
Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said five police personnel, one foreign civilian and four Indonesian civilians were injured.
He said that the situation was now under control.
Police spokesman Iqbal Kabid said a gunfight between the attackers and police took place in a cinema that is in the same building as a Starbucks cafe.
Bodies were seen lying in the streets as security forces moved in, with reports of gunfire and warnings of snipers in the area.
Police earlier said the blasts were caused by grenades, not bombs.
Todd Elliot, a terrorism expert in Jakarta, said his police sources indicated none of the attacks were suicide bombers, contrary to other reports.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the blasts were "acts of terror".
"Our nation and our people should not be afraid, we will not be defeated by these acts of terror, I hope the public stay calm," he told MetroTV.
"We all are grieving for the fallen victims of this incident, but we also condemn the act that has disturbed the security and peace and spread terror among our people."
Police said they believed the attack was inspired by Islamic State and that the attackers were connected to a terror cell that was disrupted just before Christmas.
National intelligence agency chief Sutiyoso said there were no indications Islamic State militants were behind the attack but said "this is definitely terrorism".
One witness filmed the moment one of the blasts took place, in a car park out the front a commercial building.
Indonesian media reported at least one of the explosions was caused by a suicide bomber.
The ABC's South-East Asia correspondent Samantha Hawley said armoured trucks, the head of intelligence and bomb squad officers had joined police at the scene of the blasts.
Earlier, officers at the scene told AFP news agency reporters to "get back" because there "is a sniper" on the roof of a building.
Editor-in-chief of the Jakarta Post, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, said the targeted area was quite popular.
"It's less than one-and-a-half kilometres to the palace, it's basically where the centre of government is," he said.
"Five hundred metres away is the central bank building, you have multiple government buildings, major, major centre of government area."
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said officials in Indonesia were making enquiries to determine whether Australians had been involved in the attacks.
Ms Bishop said the Australian Government condemned the attacks, and that she had spoken to her Indonesian counterpart and offered any support the country may need to respond to the attacks.
Attorney-General George Brandis issued a statement saying the "Government has offered law enforcement and intelligence assistance to Indonesia" following the attacks.
Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, tweeted: "All Australians should stay clear of these areas, limit their movements and follow the instructions of local authorities."
Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull tweeted: "Australians' thoughts, prayers and resolute solidarity are with the people of Indonesia as they respond to the terrorist attacks."
United Nations regional representative Jeremy Douglas, speaking to the ABC from the UN office in Jakarta, said the building was in lockdown.
He said he had been in a car when the first blast went off.
"We got out of the car and we heard a second bomb. Then we heard a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and then gunfire in the street. A lot of gunfire," he said.
Some other buildings in the area were also evacuated.
Starbucks said all of its stores in Jakarta would remain closed until further notice.
What we know:
•Several initial blasts struck central Jakarta shortly before 3:00pm AEDT
•Bombs were thrown at a popular Starbucks cafe, then a suicide bombing at a police checkpoint
•Blasts struck outside the Sarinah shopping centre and the UN's country office
•Shots were fired outside Starbucks as security forces moved in
•Police say five suspected attackers are dead, including two suicide bombers
•A foreign national and a policeman are also believed to have been killed
•Police said the attackers were part of the terror cell from Solo and in communication with Syria
•Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!!!!!