'House blast a terror message'<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Less than 24 hours after the police chief warned the public of
\nthe possibility of acts of terror, a bomb exploded at the
\ncompound of the House of Representatives\/People's Consultative
\nAssembly in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.<\/p>\n
The explosion was also a wake-up call for the police, who
\nenjoyed a victory just two days ago when they arrested nine
\nsuspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in Jakarta and
\nSemarang.<\/p>\n
The high explosive bomb, which exploded at 7:30 a.m., ripped
\nthrough the rolling door of the central air-conditioner control
\nroom at the Nusantara IV building and shattered windows 75 meters
\naway. The device was packed with shrapnel, including 15-
\ncentimeter nails, which police later found scattered 100 meters
\nfrom the blast site.<\/p>\n
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing. No
\nfatalities or injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
The compound was quiet since the House members are in recess.<\/p>\n
\"It is a warning to us that bomb threats still loom despite
\nour success in arresting many terrorist suspects,\" Jakarta Police
\nchief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara told reporters at the blast
\nsite.<\/p>\n
During Friday's arrest of suspected JI members, the police
\nconfiscated arms, ammunition, explosives and documents. One of
\nthe suspects apparently committed suicide during interrogation.<\/p>\n
Makbul had said earlier that suspected terrorists had targeted
\npublic places, places of worship and planned the assassination of
\npublic figures, as indicated in documents police obtained
\nincluding a list of MPR members.<\/p>\n
The United Nations has listed JI as a terrorist network. JI is
\nalso believed to be responsible for the Bali bombings, which
\nkilled 202 people, and other bomb attacks in the country.<\/p>\n
Alleged JI leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is on trial at the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court for treason and immigration
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
Makbul said the police had yet to determine whether the blast
\nwas the work of JI.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zaenuri Lubis warned that
\naround 3,000 JI members, who obtained battle experience in
\nAfghanistan, remained free.<\/p>\n
He said the figure was given by a JI member, identified as
\nDedy, who was arrested earlier in Ciamis, West Java.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said that the
\nexplosive used in Monday's blast was similar to the one that
\nexploded in Terminal F of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
\nand another on Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta behind the UN
\nbuilding, both in April.<\/p>\n
\"However, it doesn't necessarily mean that the suspects behind
\nthe bombing are the same,\" he said when visiting the scene.<\/p>\n
Police originally blamed the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the
\nApril blasts. GAM has denied any involvement.<\/p>\n
A police detective on the scene criticized the security system
\nin the House compound, saying it would be difficult for police to
\nfind out who planted the bomb.<\/p>\n
He also lambasted the security guards, who apparently rarely
\npatrol the area around the blast site \"because it is dark\".<\/p>\n
\"We only have witnesses who heard the explosion. We haven't
\nfound any witnesses who saw suspicious material or persons,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Agus, a security guard at the compound, said there were only
\neight guards on duty when the explosion occurred. Another eight
\nguards were assigned to safeguard the House's top leaders.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung admitted that security in the
\ncompound was poor and said he would ask for extra security from
\npolice.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to add more 25 security guards,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Editorial page 6<\/p>\n
.PL
\n.RM
\nMajor bomb attacks in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Date Venue Casualties Status
\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Feb. 3, 2003 Wisma Bhayangkari, National one injured bomber formerly<\/p>\n
Police Headquarters, S. Jakarta in police<\/p>\n
bomb squad<\/p>\n
Apr. 24, 2003 Jl. Wahid Hasyim behind the UN no injuries unresolved<\/p>\n
representative office, Central<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Apr. 27, 2003 Departure Terminal F at 11 injured unresolved<\/p>\n
Soekarno-Hatta International<\/p>\n
Airport<\/p>\n
July, 14, 2003 The House of Representatives and no injuries unresolved<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly<\/p>\n
compound<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-blast-a-terror-message-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }