Bomb hoax reported at Indosat building

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of employees were evacuated from the 25-story Indosat building on Jl. Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, yesterday afternoon after news spread of a bomb threat.

Workers in the building, owned by state-owned satellite operator Indosat, gathered outside but were told not to go home.

Officers from the Bomb Squad (Gegana) were dispatched to the building at 3:30 p.m. and after a sweep it was declared bomb- free.

A police captain from Gambir Police subprecinct said a telephone operator in the building received the threat about 1:30 p.m..

"After receiving the phone call three times, the building management then asked the employees to leave the building," the officer, who asked for anonymity, said.

Earlier in the day, Gambir Police received a report about another bomb hoax at BII building on Jl. MH. Thamrin.

"We also found nothing in the building," he said.

The city has been rocked by a series of bomb hoaxes in the last two months ahead of next week's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Most of the bomb threats were reported on working days at privately owned offices and shopping facilities or theaters. (jun)