Bomb explosion hits Slipi, injuring 14 people

JAKARTA (JP): An explosive device, believed to be a bomb, blew up under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta on Wednesday evening, injuring at least 14 people.

No fatalities were reported.

West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Iwan Ismet said that the bomb blast occurred at about 8.30 p.m.

"According to eye witnesses, a pink object was thrown from a truck crossing the toll flyover," he said.

"The truck slowed down before people inside it threw the object."

The object, Ismet believed to be a bomb, fell close to the traffic lights at the intersection of Jl. Letjen S. Parman and Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun.

It then exploded and left marks on the asphalt.

The blast immediately caused a traffic jam as police cordoned off the area surrounding the blast.

Later on, traffic along Jl. Letjen S. Parman, heading to Cawang, East Jakarta, was blocked.

At least 14 people were injured by bomb shrapnel, according to hospital staffers. However, police said 12 people were injured.

Three victims: Samadi, 29; Suparmin, 30 and Togar Budi Sugianto, 23, were badly injured and sent directly to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM).

Two more victims, Andi Lala, 16, Romadon, 12, who were initially treated at Tresna Pangastuti Hospital located on Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun, just 200 meters from the site of the bomb blast, were later sent to RSCM.

Andi and Romadon were said to be street singers.

Four other people were still being treated at Tresna Pangastuti Hospital.

They were Hambali, 30; Sri Lestari, 30; Suryatno, 52; and Ipianto alias Si'if, 20.

The rest of the victims: Nur Ahmad, 29; Mawardi, 28; Sukarmin, 29; Ibrianto; Eddy, 32, went home as they only received light injuries.

Two other victims, brothers Dariyanto, 19 and Edi Heriyanto, 17, went by themselves to Pelni Hospital, located further away on Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun. After receiving treatment, both were allowed to leave the hospital.

According to an employee at Pelni Hospital, Dariyanto and Heriyanto were waiting for a bus when the bomb exploded.

According to Sri Lestari, she was browsing goods sold by street vendors when she suddenly heard a big explosion.

"Next thing I knew, my left hand was bleeding and I was taken to hospital," she said.

Meanwhile, Suryatna said that he was about to cross the street when the blast occurred.

"I fainted," he said.

City police chief Sofjan Yacob, who visited the victims treated at Tresna Pangastuti Hospital, said that police were investigating the case.

"We're still waiting for results from Gegana (police bomb squad)" he asserted.

"We suspect that this act was an effort to create security fears in the capital ahead of the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly due on August 1," he added.

City police detective chief Adang Rohyana said that the police had stopped three trucks in Karawang and all three were taken to West Jakarta Police office.

Adang added that police were questioning three truck drivers and three assistants as witnesses.

Jakarta has experienced a series of bomb explosions in the past few months. The latest explosions shattered boardinghouses in Pancoran and destroyed an Acehnese boardinghouse in Manggarai, both in South Jakarta. (ylt/rbw/06/bby/hdn)