By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA (AA): Indonesian police confirmed Thursday that at least seven people were killed after multiple explosions rocked a popular shopping center in Jakarta.
Anton Charliyan, National Police spokesperson, was quoted by news broadcaster Kompas as saying that those killed in the blasts outside the Sarinah shopping center included three civilians and a police officer. Four alleged attackers were killed too.
He acknowledged the possibility that the incident – which destroyed a police post – could have been a suicide bombing.
The popular area was struck by around four blasts, followed by a shootout, Kompas TV reported.
Two customers were injured at a Starbucks store and have been transported to a nearby hospital.
According to the national police, three of the blasts were from grenades rather than bombs. Police have also surrounded a theatre near the mall after armed suspects ran into the building, where two officers suffered gunshot wounds.
Blasts also occured near UN offices.
“The perpetrators have not been identified yet but there was a [perpetrator] who drove a motorbike and [they are] armed,” Charliyan said.He added that before the blast occurred, Daesh had issued warning that there would be “a concert” – a term for terror acts – in Indonesia.
Following the attack, security has been tightened at the presidential palace.
President Joko Widodo was quoted by Kompas TV as saying, “the state, nation and citizens are not scared, they are not subordinate to acts of terrorism like this. I hope people will keep calm.”
In a statement to journalists, Widodo said, “We all condemn the action that disturbs the people’s security and spreads terror. I have ordered the head of police and the security minister to chase and catch those involved in the terror act and their network.” He called the attacks as “action of terror”.
Indonesia has witnessed a number of violent acts by extremist groups, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.
The archipelago has been on alert against such groups, and more than 20 people suspected of having Daesh links were arrested across Indonesia’s islands in late December.Of them, 11 were placed in custody on Java island for allegedly plotting a Christmas Eve attack in Jakarta.
Additional reporting The Muslim News
[Photo: The bodies of victims lie at the site of a blast in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 14, 2016. Several explosions went off and gunfire broke out in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday and police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one the blasts. Photographer: Dasril Roszan/AA]
