Bus bombing kills one in Poso

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Authorities closed the Trans-Sulawesi road between Poso and Tentena after a bomb exploded in front of a bus bound for Poso, killing one passenger and injuring four others.

This was the second bombing of a public bus in less than two months in the Central Sulawesi regency of Poso, which once was rocked with sectarian clashes.

The latest explosion came as Sulawesi welcomed its new military commander Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaini, who was installed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar earlier in the day.

The Omega bus was heading for Poso and carrying 26 people when the bomb exploded.

No parties have come forward to take responsibility for the blast.

Lage District Police chief First Insp. Marten Totombu told Antara that the fatality was a woman, whose body has not yet been unidentified. He added that the four injured victims were rushed to Tentena public hospital.

A passenger who witnessed the explosion told Marten that the bomb was inside a leather bag, which was lying on the road.

He said the bus driver thought the bag had fallen off a vehicle and ordered the conductor to pick it up.

It exploded when the conductor tried to examine its contents.

Following the blast, people began to gather around the explosion site, forcing the police to close the road, Marten said.