Bomb put in train to trigger chaos: Police

JAKARTA (JP): A homemade bomb placed in a loudspeaker found on an electric train on Thursday contained only low-grade explosives, but it was aimed at causing havoc in the capital, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said on Friday.

"The bomb was placed on the train to trigger chaos in the capital just ahead of the special session of the People's Legislative Assembly (MPR). What else?" Sofjan told reporters.

The MPR's special session, slated to be held in early August, is likely to result in the impeachment of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Meanwhile, East Jakarta Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Agus Irianto said that those who placed the bomb on the train aimed at causing the death of passengers in the car or causing the train to lose control.

On Thursday evening, Gegana (Bomb Squad) officers after failing to deactivate the bomb, shot it once causing it to explode. The loudspeaker was destroyed, but a cassette ribbon inside the bomb remained intact.

"The ribbon was still intact, surprisingly, although it was crinkled. We'll see what we can do with it. Maybe, there's something recorded on it," Agus told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

He added that police were still interrogating three people in connection with the incident, including Heri Kiawan, who found the bomb and took it to his office in Pisangan, East Jakarta.

On Thursday, Heri, alias Hendrik, took the Bogor-Kota train, when he found the loudspeaker.

"I was in the second last car of the train. Upon reaching Juanda station, I noticed very near the door of the car, there was a man sitting there, almost asleep. Near his seat, was this loudspeaker," Heri said.

"There was another young man eyeing the loudspeaker, and then looking at me. I thought that he must have been a thief. The man who was nearly asleep, got off at Kota station, and did not take the loudspeaker with him."

"The young man, who had been watching me, suddenly said, 'Hey! Whose stuff is this? Hey Pak! Why don't you take this (loudspeaker) with you?' So, I took it. That man then got off the train after he saw me take the loudspeaker."

Heri brought the loudspeaker with him to the computer service center where he worked, and had it examined.

"It worked. I told the guys to wrap it up for me since I wanted to bring it home. Suddenly, I heard something falling inside the loudspeaker. We pried it open, and found a walkman and an Ericsson cell phone, batteries and lots of wires ... so I freaked out," Heri said.

Heri then submitted the loudspeaker to the Matraman Police subprecinct. (ylt)