High explosive device caused Istiqlal blast<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police announced on Thursday that the blast at
\nthe Istiqlal Grand Mosque was caused by a bomb made from a highly
\nexplosive mixture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and potassium
\nchlorate.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman told reporters that
\ninvestigative police, who have little clue about those
\nresponsible for Monday's blast or their motives, recently
\nreceived the results from the National Police Forensic Laboratory
\nanalysis.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the explosives were connected to a
\ntimed detonator.<\/p>\n
\"But there was not a large amount of explosives used. The bomb
\nhad a highly destructive effect mainly because it was placed on
\nthe ground floor of the mosque,\" Noegroho said.<\/p>\n
The two-star general, however, refused to comment on where
\nsuch explosive ingredients could be obtained here. Many suspect
\nthe military of being involved in the bombing.<\/p>\n
Such explosive substances are sold to certain industries,
\nincluding the military and mining companies.<\/p>\n
Monday's explosion shattered dozens of windows and cracked the
\nwalls of Islamic organization offices on the ground floor of the
\nmosque.<\/p>\n
Police are searching for two men seen by witnesses leaving the
\nscene on an RX King motorcycle immediately after the explosion. A
\nlikeness of one of the suspects has been widely circulated and
\npublished by the media across the country.<\/p>\n
The explosive devices are believed to have been placed on the
\nfloor in front of the office of the Indonesian Islamic Women's
\nOrganization Conference (BMOWI), which is opposite the Indonesian
\nUlema Council (MUI) office.<\/p>\n
The blast, which occurred at 3:20 p.m., also damaged several
\nother offices in the vicinity.<\/p>\n
The ground floor of the mosque is home to 21 offices,
\nincluding the Marital Counseling (BP4) headquarters, Indonesian
\nCommittee for World Moslem Solidarity (Kisdi), the Muslim Forum
\nto Uphold Constitution and Justice (Furqon), Coordinating Board
\nfor Indonesian Mosque Youth Organizations (BKPRMI), and the Board
\nof Indonesian Mosques (DMI).<\/p>\n
Travelers and homeless people frequently spend the night in
\nthe area and students rest there in the afternoons while waiting
\nfor prayer time.<\/p>\n
Separately on Thursday, A. Cholik, head of the maintenance
\ndepartment, said the explosion had damaged 110 window panes in
\nthe mosque.<\/p>\n
The installation of the new windows will begin on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The windows panes are now being prepared at a glass shop,\"
\nCholik said.<\/p>\n
He estimated the window replacement and other repair work,
\nsuch as repainting walls and repairing broken air conditioning
\npipes, would cost at least Rp 500 million (US$87,800).<\/p>\n
According to Cholik, the funds required for the repair work
\nhave already been collected by the management, thanks to the
\nenthusiasm of donors.<\/p>\n
One individual donor contributed half of the money required,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
The Tempo weekly magazine donated replacement windows for the
\noffice of the Indonesian Ulema Council.<\/p>\n
\"We so far have no problems with the funds needed for the
\nrepairs,\" Cholik said.<\/p>\n
In the near future, he added, the ground floor of the mosque
\nwould be protected with fences and gates to prevent people
\nentering without being checked and identified.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, he said, people can freely enter the ground
\nfloor.<\/p>\n
Similar fences will also be built on the first floor of the
\nmosque, he said, adding that the construction of the fences will
\ncost about Rp 3 billion.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the government will help finance the project,\" Cholik
\nsaid. (emf\/jun)<\/p>",
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