Blasts hurt over 70 churchgoers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sunday services at two churches in East Jakarta
\nwere disrupted after two powerful blasts sent churchgoers
\nscrambling out of the houses of worship.<\/p>\n
Churchgoers said the first blast rocked Santa Anna Catholic
\nchurch in the Navy residential complex in Duren Sawit, East
\nJakarta, at 7:05 a.m.<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, another explosion shook the Huriah Kristen
\nBatak Protestant (HKBP) church in the Army residential complex in
\nJatiwaringin, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
However, East Jakarta Police chief of detectives Comr. Agus
\nIrianto said that the blast at the church in Jatiwaringin
\noccurred first.<\/p>\n
While no fatalities were reported in both blasts, at least 70
\nchurchgoers, mostly from Santa Anna church, were injured, some
\ncritically. One person reportedly had to have his leg amputated.<\/p>\n
Those injured included seven-month-old baby Stefani, two-year-
\nold Putri and 19-year-old Angilina, who is reportedly in critical
\ncondition due to burns to most of her body. A number of victims
\nsuffered broken legs.<\/p>\n
The blast at Santa Anna church was caused by a homemade
\nexplosive device placed under the seventh bench from the back
\nnear the right side of the gate, police said.<\/p>\n
The second blast was also caused by a homemade explosive
\ndevice, and had been placed in an empty M-18 mikrolet (minivan),
\nwhich plies the Pondok Gede - Kampung Melayu route. The minivan
\nwas parked outside the Protestant church on Jl. Artileri Makassar
\nin the Army complex.<\/p>\n
The blast destroyed the minivan and a red Mitsubishi car
\nparked in front of the minivan.<\/p>\n
Police were questioning several eyewitnesses, including one
\nwho claimed he saw someone placing the explosive inside the
\nminivan.<\/p>\n
While blast victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, churches
\nin the capital condemned the bombings, and police officials
\nquickly warned city residents not to be provoked by the
\nincidents.<\/p>\n
Following the blasts, police security was tightened at a
\nnumber of popular churches here, including the cathedral in
\nCentral Jakarta, where police officers checked the bags of
\nvisitors before they entered the church.<\/p>\n
\"Judging from the nature of the blasts, I believe they were
\ncaused by powerful explosives. I understand that there are
\ncertain organizations who want to worsen the religious tension
\nhere. Please do not be provoked,\" city police spokesman Sr. Comr.
\nAnton Bachrul Alam said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Police officers found gotri (tiny black steel pellets) in and
\naround the blast areas, indicating that both bombs had been
\npacked with the pellets.<\/p>\n
While police were still scouring the blast sites for clues
\nuntil late Sunday night, President Abdurrahman Wahid announced in
\nthe afternoon that the explosive devices were made by state
\nammunitions producer PT Pindad, and had come from an Army
\nstorehouse.<\/p>\n
\"I have asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto to
\ntake immediate action and investigate the blast incidents,\"
\nAbdurrahman said, after visiting victims receiving medical
\ntreatment at Saint Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The President was accompanied by Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's sister, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, and Cardinal
\nDarmaatmadja during his visit.<\/p>\n
\"The blasts were inhumane, cursed acts that violated existing
\nregulations. We feel a deep sadness because the victims are
\ninnocent people. We can only pray for their speedy recovery,\"
\nAbdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
The blasts also provided a venue for several political
\nfigures, who, following their visits to blast victims at
\nhospitals, expressed their views on the political situation.<\/p>\n
Condemning the blasts, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais said on Sunday that Abdurrahman's presidency would end
\nin a matter of hours.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone should remain calm. We must stay clear of any acts
\nof terrorism. When one uses terror as a means to achieve one's
\npolitical goals, that is simply uncivilized and inhuman,\" Amien
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who also
\nvisited the victims at Saint Carolus Hospital, said that he too
\ncondemned the bombings.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think he (Abdurrahman) can use this (the bombings) as
\nan excuse to declare a state of emergency,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Ahmad Sujudi said that the state would
\ncover the victims' medical expenses. (ylt\/rsl\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blasts-hurt-over-70-churchgoers-1447893297",
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