Blast injures 6 people

JAKARTA (JP): The Atrium Plaza in Senen, Central Jakarta, was rocked on Wednesday by a bomb that exploded at 8:10 p.m. just in front of the shopping mall's entrance, injuring six people.

The explosion caused great panic among the visitors, who immediately ran out of the building.

The explosion was so strong that the windows and glass door of the Pizza Hut across the street were shattered.

"I was at the Atrium to shop when all of a sudden I heard a loud, deafening explosion. I fell down and suddenly there was thick smoke...," said Windhu, 19, adding that somebody then pulled her out of the smoke.

Windhu was one of the six victims that were admitted to the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

She was only slightly injured and was allowed to leave the hospital after receiving medical treatment.

Dr. Habib Abdullah, a surgeon at the hospital, said that two of the victims were seriously injured and one of the two would have his right leg amputated.

The incident is the most recent in a spate of bombings that have hit the city in the past few months. At least 70 people were injured when an explosion ripped through Santa Anna Church in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on July 22.

Earlier last month, an explosive device blew up under the Slipi flyover, Central Jakarta. Four days later, another blast occurred under the Mampang flyover, South Jakarta.

Police are still trying to determine the cause of the incidents.

Soon after the explosion at the Atrium Plaza, a number of high-ranking officials, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo and city police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob, arrived to inspect the site.

"This is surely a bomb, but I can't comment much on this case, pending further investigation," the police chief said.

Governor Sutiyoso, who visited the victims at the Army hospital, condemned the incident.

"This is an act of terror to make the people lose their trust (that the city is a safe place), to create public unrest," he said, adding that the government would cover all medical expenses.

A number of eyewitnesses, including Windhu, were taken to the Central Jakarta Police station for questioning. (04/06)