Another bomb found in Medan, car wrecked by blast in Nganjuk<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Acts of terror following another
\nbomb attack in Medan on Tuesday escalated after another explosive
\ndevice was found near the city and a vehicle was destroyed in a
\nsuspected grenade explosion in the usually quiet town of Nganjuk,
\nEast Java.<\/p>\n
The fifth explosive device in three days found in North
\nSumatra was discovered just outside Medan at dawn on Tuesday near
\nthe Trans Sumatra Highway in Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang, some 28
\nkilometers northeast of Medan.<\/p>\n
The 60-centimeter long, 30-kilogram device was found lying on
\nthe side of the road in front of an automobile showroom by a
\npasserby.<\/p>\n
A team of policemen led by Lubuk Pakam Police chief Lt. Yusuf
\nSutejo arrived to secure the device and transport it to a local
\npolice station.<\/p>\n
A police bomb squad was called in from Medan to defuse the
\nexplosive. No statement could be obtained from police about the
\ndevice.<\/p>\n
The province has been rocked by a spate of bomb attacks. On
\nSunday a bomb exploded in a Protestant church, injuring 47
\npeople. Two other bombs which did not detonate were discovered in
\ntwo other churches.<\/p>\n
On Monday, another blast occurred in front of a restaurant,
\ninjuring three.<\/p>\n
Following the string of incidents, North Sumatra Police chief
\nBrig. Gen. Sutanto held a special meeting on Tuesday with
\nProtestant preachers to calm the situation.<\/p>\n
He reminded them that North Sumatra was commonly used as a
\nbarometer for inciting riots in the country and pointed to
\nincidents in May 1998.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure, with adequate awareness and faith, we can
\nsafeguard our territory from provocateurs,\" Sutanto said.<\/p>\n
The escalating terror did not stop in Medan. In Nganjuk, a
\nblast destroyed a Suzuki minivan with Yogyakarta license plates.
\nOne of three passengers were killed in the blast.<\/p>\n
Another passenger is in critical condition while the other
\napparently fled.<\/p>\n
Police have identified the injured only as Asmi, 32.<\/p>\n
How the explosion occurred remains a mystery. The police have
\nvoiced hope that Asmi will recover and explain the incident.<\/p>\n
East Java Police chief of detectives Col. Suharto claimed the
\nexplosion was caused by a grenade or some type of ammunition
\nfriction inside the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Suharto said it was believed the vehicle was heading for
\nSurabaya or Surakarta.<\/p>\n
The police say they found pieces of grenade fragments and
\ndiscovered that the minivan was transporting grenades and
\nhundreds of rounds of bullets.<\/p>\n
Suharto declined to speculate on the cause or motive behind
\nthe blast, saying that it was still under investigation by the
\nbomb squad and forensic team.<\/p>\n
\"Police will try to get more information from Asmi. We have
\nalready contacted Asmi's wife in Yogyakarta,\" Suharto said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Awareness<\/p>\n
Amid the persistent unrest and escalating acts of terror
\ngriping the country, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm.
\nWidodo A.S. said in Jakarta that security forces everywhere must
\nincrease their awareness and be prepared to anticipate rapid
\nsecurity changes across the country.<\/p>\n
\"To every TNI soldier, wherever they are, I order you to watch
\ncarefully and follow every development in the field so you will
\nbe prepared to move immediately,\" Widodo said as quoted by Antara<\/p>\n
Widodo also warned soldiers to exercise self-restraint in
\nhandling matters and told them they must follow the correct and
\nproper procedures, including following the chain of command.<\/p>\n
Soldiers must not act impulsively to every incident, he said.<\/p>\n
He further remarked that soldiers must also trust the police
\nforce to maintain law and order.<\/p>\n
Widodo underlined that TNI would not tolerate any anarchic
\nactions, especially against TNI members, and urged police to take
\nstern measures against parties trying to disrupt the peace in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"By all means, such action cannot be tolerated anymore because
\nit costs the public and the country. Everybody has to realize
\nthat tension will only cause insecurity and corrode state life,\"
\nWidodo added.(39\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/another-bomb-found-in-medan-car-wrecked-by-blast-in-nganjuk-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}