Explosion in Jakarta leaves at least 1 dead

[webfact]

Explosion in Jakarta leaves at least 1 dead; gunfire heard
NINIEK KARMINI, Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A massive explosion rocked downtown Jakarta in front of a popular shopping mall on Thursday and an Associated Press reporter saw at least one dead body.

Gunshots were heard after the midmorning explosion in front of the Sarinah shopping mall and a police station. The area also has many luxury hotels, and offices and embassies, including the French.

It was not clear who was shooting but police had cordoned off the area, preventing reporters from going near the scene.

Witnesses said the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, but there was no immediate confirmation of the claim.

Indonesia has been a victim of several bombing attacks in the past, claimed by Islamic militant groups.

The country has been on high alert after authorities said they had foiled a plot by Islamic militants to attack government officials, foreigners and others. About 150,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed during New Year's Eve to guard churches, airports and other public places.

More than 9,000 police were also deployed in Bali, the site of Indonesia's deadliest terror attack, which killed 202 people in 2002.

National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Anton Charliyan said security is focused on anticipating attacks in vulnerable regions, including Jakarta.

On Tuesday, the jailed radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to an Indonesia court to have his conviction for funding a terror training camp overturned, arguing that his support for the camp was an act of worship.

The 77-year-old leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant 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.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has suffered a spate of deadly attacks by the Jemaah Islamiyah network in the past. But strikes in recent years have been smaller and less deadly, and have targeted government authorities, mainly police and anti-terrorism forces.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-14

[Tywais]

Multiple explosions, gunfire in central Jakarta, Indonesia near café & UN agency office

At least six blasts went off in the city center of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in an apparent terrorist attack involving suicide bombers. Witnesses describe casualties, chaotic scenes, and exchanges of gunfire with police.

The official Twitter account of the Jakarta police said that one explosion went off in front of a shopping center known as Sarinah mall.

At least one suicide bomber set off the explosions, Reuters quoted Indonesia’s national police spokesman as saying.

Meanwhile, an active shooter is reported to be on scene, according to France 24.

rt.com

[webfact]

The Latest: More explosions reported in Jakarta

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The latest on explosions in downtown Jakarta (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

A U.N. regional representative in Jakarta, Jeremy Douglas, is tweeting that a massive explosion in front of the U.N. office in the Indonesian capital has been followed by at six other blasts and gunfire.

He says police and broadcasting announcements for people to stay away from windows.

The midmorning explosion Thursday took place in front of the Sarinah shopping mall in an area that also has many luxury hotels, embassies and offices.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-14

[neverdie]

Here we go again.

[Tywais]

[webfact]

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Witness says there were 3 explosions, likely in Starbucks cafe in Jakarta.

[Tywais]

[Old Croc]

The terrorist organiser, radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, should have been executed years ago with his apprentices, the Bali bombers.

His terrorist training school should have been dismantled at the same time.

Edited January 14, 2016 by Old Croc

[Tywais]

[webfact]

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian network TVOne reports 3 more explosions in Jakarta near Turkish, Pakistan embassies.

[Usernames]

Perhaps wise not to vacation or visit moslem countries.

[JHolmesJr]

Lots of expats waking around that area. Hope they can confine the losses to 4 lives….

[webfact]

Witness says 3 suicide bombers explode in Jakarta Starbucks
NINIEK KARMINI, Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — At least three suicide bombers exploded themselves in a Starbucks cafe in downtown Jakarta on Thursday while two gunmen attacked a police post nearby, a witness told The Associated Press. TVOne, a local television network, reported three other explosions in other parts of the city.

At least one policeman was killed in addition to the bombers.

The first explosion appeared to have triggered a gun-battle between the attackers and anti-terror police squads, and gunfire could be heard more than 1 ½ hours later.

Tri Seranto, a bank security guard, told The Associated Press he saw at least five attackers, including three suicide bombers who exploded themselves in the Starbucks.

He said he was out on the street when he saw the three men entering Starbucks and saw them blowing themselves up one by one. He said the other two attackers, carrying handguns, entered a police post from where he heard gunfire. He said he later saw one policeman dead and three seriously wounded.

He said he was not injured in the explosions as he was a little distance away, but close enough to witness the attack at 10.30 a.m. (0230 GMT).

He said the two gunmen ran away with police chasing them.

Gunshots were heard after the midmorning explosion in front of the Sarinah shopping mall and a police station. The area also has many luxury hotels, and offices and embassies, including the French. The other set of explosions were in neighborhoods where the embassies of Turkey and Pakistan are located.

Indonesia has been a victim of several bombing attacks in the past, claimed by Islamic militant groups.

Last month, anti-terror police arrested nine men and said the group had wanted to "perform a 'concert' to attract international news coverage of their existence here." Police cited a document seized from the group that described the planned attacks as a "concert."

The country has been on high alert after authorities said they had foiled a plot by Islamic militants to attack government officials, foreigners and others. About 150,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed during New Year's Eve to guard churches, airports and other public places.

More than 9,000 police were also deployed in Bali, the site of Indonesia's deadliest terror attack, which killed 202 people in 2002.

National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Anton Charliyan said security is focused on anticipating attacks in vulnerable regions, including Jakarta.

On Tuesday, the jailed radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to an Indonesia court to have his conviction for funding a terror training camp overturned, arguing that his support for the camp was an act of worship.

The 77-year-old leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant 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.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has suffered a spate of deadly attacks by the Jemaah Islamiyah network in the past. But strikes in recent years have been smaller and less deadly, and have targeted government authorities, mainly police and anti-terrorism forces.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-14

[Tywais]

At least six killed in attacks

This latest report is from Reuters:

Militants launched a gun and bomb assault killing at least six people in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, police said, in an attack that followed a threat by Islamic State fighters to put the country in their “spotlight”.

Media said six bombs went off and a Reuters witness saw three dead people and a gunfight going on. One blast was in a Starbucks cafe and security forces were later seen entering the building.

Police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one of the blasts and up to 14 militant gunmen were involved in the attack, Metro TV reported.

“The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him,” said a Reuters photographer.

Indonesia has been on edge in recent weeks over the threat posed by Islamist militants and counter-terrorism police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to Islamic State.

“We have previously received a threat from Islamic State that Indonesia will be the spotlight,” police spokesman Anton Charliyan told reporters. But he said police did not know who was responsible.

more here - theguardian

[canuckamuck]

Can't we just pin a thread called the daily Islamist atrocity

[webfact]

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - An explosion is heard from a cafe next to the Starbucks cafe attacked earlier in Jakarta

[steven100]

crazy muslims radicals again ... kill em all.

[webfact]

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Jakarta police spokesman says 7 people including 4 attackers killed in downtown attacks

[webfact]

Ministry says no Thais hurt in bomb explosions in Jakarta



BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says at noon today no Thai nationals were either killed or injured in a series of explosions that rocked the center of the Indonesian capital today.

According to NNT, Indonesian police reported several explosions went off and gunfire broke out in downtown Jakarta.

They said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one of the explosions.

One blast was in a Starbucks cafe and security forces were later seen entering the building.

Another explosion went off in front of a shopping center called the Sarinah mall, on a main city avenue.

A separate explosion was heard in the western suburb of Palmerah, according to a local media station, but there were no other details immediately available.

At least six people are reported dead in a suspected series of bombings and gunfire outside the Sarinah department store on Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, according to Jakarta Globe.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has already contacted Thai communities in Jakarta and advised them to be on heightened alert and avoid travelling to risk-prone areas during this pivotal moment.

The ministry said there are about 4,000 Thai nationals living in Indonesia, about 300 of which live in the capital city.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ministry-says-no-thais-hurt-in-bomb-explosions-in-jakarta


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-14

[HenryB]

Can't we just pin a thread called the daily Islamist atrocity

As long as we love the Muslims they will not stop trying to kill us

We have to stop this love and start attacking the terrorists before they attack us

[HenryB]

crazy muslims radicals again ... kill em all.

Our leader in Western Countries Love these Crazy Muslims to much that is the problem

[steven100]

crazy muslims radicals again ... kill em all.

Our leader in Western Countries Love these Crazy Muslims to much that is the problem

I guess Trump would like them all eliminated which wouldn't be a bad idea !! I'll vote for that !!

[webfact]

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian police say attack in downtown Jakarta has ended, security forces in control.

[monk213]

The terrorist organiser, radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, should have been executed years ago with his apprentices, the Bali bombers.

His terrorist training school should have been dismantled at the same time.

You're living in a dream world my friend, they have been let to run wild because it is the in the interest of the super powers that these people exist. Think outside of the box

[JHolmesJr]

Bizarre and thoroughly incompetent attack, to the good fortune of everyone....could have been way worse if they had some kind of plan, training and brains.

[MobileContent]

The Indonesian Security Forces should be applauded to clear the situation in a very quick time.

I put my money on Bashir and his Muslim terrorists aka JI. This certainly was not ISIS

[Prbkk]

This was NOT a "massive explosion" as reported, repeatedly by AP: it was a coordinated series of grenade and suicide vest attacks involving hostage taking from Starbucks and and attempt to kill police in a roadside booth. It seems that one Dutch citizen is dead and another severely injured.

It follows the pattern of 'soft target' attacks, using limited resources for maximum media exposure and public fear. To that end the location was carefully chosen as those familiar with Jakarta will know : absolute downtown, iconic building, American coffee shop.

[Carl64]

Thai authorities say there are no Thai's hurt and that they expect more tourist dollars to come to Thailand.

[Howitzer]

Wow dangerous i think i will go thailand instead.

[hansnl]

The religion if peace demonstrates another declaration of love......