Scene from the site where the explosion took place. (Photo courtesy: @ReesEdward/Twitter)
Islamic State (ISIS) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the morning attacks which left 7 dead and 10 others injured. All the attackers were also killed.
Here’s the moment militants launched an attack on Indonesia’s capital, killing six people: https://t.co/PPDgmG1YqU https://t.co/8KSJwZkqDi
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 14, 2016
“Islamic State fighters carried out an armed attack this morning targeting foreign nationals and the security forces charged with protecting them in the Indonesian capital,” Aamaaq news agency said on its Telegram channel.
Attackers target Starbucks cafe in a bustling shopping area in Indonesia’s capital and waged gun battles with police on Thursday morning, leaving bodies in the streets as office workers watched in terror from high-rise buildings.
Police said five attackers and two civilians were killed, while 10 people were injured in the brazen attacks, which followed several warnings in recent weeks by police that Islamic militants were planning something big.
It was unclear if any perpetrators remained at large. Five hours after the major downtown street in Jakarta -not far from the presidential palace and the US Embassy – turned into a battleground, police declared the area near the Sarinah shopping mall secure.
“We believe there are no more attackers around Sarinah. We have taken control,” Jakarta police spokesman Col. Muhammad Iqbal said. Gen. Anton Charilyan, a national police spokesman, said the attack involved an unknown number of assailants with grenades and guns.
He said they imitated the recent “terror acts” in Paris and were likely from the Islamic State group, but gave no evidence.
It was the first major attack in Indonesia’s capital since the 2009 bombings of two hotels that killed seven people and injured more than 50.
Before that, bombings at nightclubs on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. No one claimed responsibility for today’s attack on Thamrin Street, which prompted a security lockdown in central Jakarta and enhanced checks all over the city of 10 million.
Charilyan said police had received information in late November about a warning from the Islamic State group that “there will be a concert” in Indonesia, meaning an attack.
“This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, said in a statement on television. Jokowi, who was in the West Java town of Cirebon, said he was returning to Jakarta immediately.
“The state, the nation and the people should not be afraid of, and be defeated by, such terror acts,” he said.
Tri Seranto, a bank security guard, said he saw at least five attackers, including three who triggered explosions at the Starbucks. Tri described them as suicide bombers, but police spokesman Charilyan denied they blew themselves up. He said the two dead civilians were a Dutch citizen and an Indonesian.
An Algerian man was among the 10 injured, he said. But there was some confusion about the Dutch citizen’s status.
A Dutch Foreign Minister spokeswoman in the Netherlands said he was seriously injured and was undergoing surgery.
After the explosions at Starbucks, a gunbattle broke out between the attackers and anti-terror police squads, and gunfire could be heard more than 1½ hours later.
Witnesses saw at least three bodies sprawled on the sidewalk after the fighting ended. The area has many luxury hotels, and offices in high-rise buildings and embassies, including the French.
Here is a photo just sent in re that apparent bombing at sarinah mall in #jakarta. pic.twitter.com/DNQdPVO1EL
— Edward Rees (@ReesEdward) January 14, 2016
GRAPHIC – more photos are apparent bombing at sarinah mall in central #jakarta. pic.twitter.com/9h0bUONwGO — Edward Rees (@ReesEdward) January 14, 2016
Dramatic and graphic photo of police post immediate post bombing across from Sarinah Mall #Jakarta. pic.twitter.com/h38Rre2r84
— Edward Rees (@ReesEdward) January 14, 2016
#Jakarta bombers now apparently inside the Sarinah cinema across from the UN Office? — Edward Rees (@ReesEdward) January 14, 2016
The latest from office window. No view of scene. Seeing tactical teams going in, pic.twitter.com/abkxHNganC
— Jeremy Douglas (@jdouglasSEA) January 14, 2016
And folks in office saying think it is a #Paris type #foreignfigthers #ISIS supporters attack. Given 500 in #Syria wouldn’t be huge surprise — Jeremy Douglas (@jdouglasSEA) January 14, 2016
11:42 Ada penanganan ledakan di depan Sarinah Thamrin, sementara lalin dialihkan. pic.twitter.com/F9d0ZPV72O
— TMC Polda Metro Jaya (@TMCPoldaMetro) January 14, 2016
12:11 Ada penanganan ledakan di depan Sarinah Jl. MH. Thamrin Jakpus, sementara lalin dialihkan. @frans_yosafat pic.twitter.com/cg1ar96hhn — TMC Polda Metro Jaya (@TMCPoldaMetro) January 14, 2016