Atrium blast related to earlier bombings: Police<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob voiced
\nbelief on Thursday that the Atrium Plaza bombing in Central
\nJakarta was related to blasts under the Slipi flyover, West
\nJakarta, and at two churches in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"The earlier blasts had something in common with the Atrium
\nbombing, in that pellets were used in the bombs," Sofjan told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Six people were injured in the explosion in the six-story
\nshopping plaza in Senen on Wednesday evening. The explosion under
\na flyover in Slipi occurred on July 15, while bombs detonated on
\nJuly 22 in the Santa Anna church in Duren Sawit and the
\nProtestant Batak Church (HKBP) in Makassar district.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the accusation that the police had failed to
\nprotect the city from bombings, Sofjan said the police had tried
\nto prevent such incidents.<\/p>\n
"But we cannot watch every space in the city," he said.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Sr. Com. Anton Bahrul Alam said the
\npolice had questioned 16 witnesses, but no suspect had yet been
\nnamed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, three of the six people hospitalized after the
\nAtrium bomb blast were released from Gatot Subroto Army Hospital
\non Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
One of those in the hospital, Dodi, is in intensive care after
\nhaving his right leg amputated.<\/p>\n
According to nurse Merry Silaban at the hospital, Dodi is in
\nshock but is in a stable condition. His breathing is being
\nassisted by a respirator.<\/p>\n
She said that Dodi claimed to be a resident of Kebagusan
\nKecil, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
All three of those in the hospital are being tightly guarded
\nby the police, with only their immediate family being allowed to
\nvisit.<\/p>\n
The other two still in the hospital are Suryadi, a resident of
\nBengkulu province, and a man claiming to be Iwan Daroji from
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The latter, however, was in the possession of an identity card
\nunder the name of M. Darozat Arsyad, a resident of Cipinang Asem,
\nEast Jakarta. He suffered cuts from flying glass from the blast.
\nHe is said to be conscious and recovering well.<\/p>\n
Suryadi is also recovering from cuts in his right thigh,
\nshoulder and arm.<\/p>\n
Merry said that "the two victims are recovering well."<\/p>\n
"We have removed the pieces of glass from their bodies. I'm
\nnot sure about the one in ICU, he seems to be in a deep state of
\nshock," Merry said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the plaza remained closed on Thursday, causing
\nlosses of Rp 35 billion.<\/p>\n
"Our daily transactions normally reach between Rp 30 billion
\nand Rp 35 billion," the mall's operator, PT Segitiga Atrium's
\nbusiness development manager, Steven Tjen, told reporters.<\/p>\n
Steven admitted that damage costs, such as broken windows and
\ndamage to the main gate, were being calculated, adding that the
\nmall was insured.<\/p>\n
He said the management was forced to close the mall on
\nThursday since the National Police central forensics laboratory
\nwas examining the scene.<\/p>\n
"Thankfully the police are permitting us to resume business on
\nFriday. They understand that our tenants should resume business
\nto avoid more losses," he said.<\/p>\n
Steven said the management, which had earlier deployed three
\nsniffer dogs and 200 security officers, had received no warning
\nprior to the explosion.<\/p>\n
He denied that the blast had caused serious damage and
\ndestroyed stores inside the mall, saying that only glass, walls
\nand the roof outside the mall had been damaged in the explosion.<\/p>\n
"Actually, we could resume business today, but due to the
\nlaboratory unit investigation, we closed today and will resume
\noperations tomorrow," Steven said. (jun\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/atrium-blast-related-to-earlier-bombings-police-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}