Explosion startles S. Jakarta residents
JAKARTA (JP): After a recent string of blasts, a small explosion shocked residents of the Gudang Peluru Complex in South Jakarta on Tuesday morning.
No fatalities or injuries were reported following the explosion, which was reportedly caused by firecrackers placed inside an empty energy-drink bottle.
The blast occurred at a minibus depot and damaged a surrounding wall. The depot, which houses minibuses plying the Kampung Melayu-Manggarai route, was empty when the bottle exploded.
The bottle containing the firecrackers was reportedly planted there by two former minibus crew members.
"We have arrested both suspects, Purwanto and Saito, who were seen by eyewitnesses running off following the explosion and giggling hysterically. They told police officers that they were just experimenting," South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang W. told reporters.
Bambang said that the police were investigating the possibility that the suspects planted the low-level explosive device at the depot in order to take revenge against the depot owner, Siswanto, after both suspects lost their jobs as minibus crew members.
Monday's explosion occurred minutes after firecrackers had been let off during a religious ceremony in the area which was attended by the neighborhood unit (RT) and community unit (RW) heads.
"After the firecrackers had been let off during the ceremony, suddenly we heard a loud bang and it did not come from the ceremony. Then we saw these two men running away and giggling," an eyewitness said.
"We searched for the source of the explosion and found that it was in the minibus depot."
A hand grenade thrown by a passerby who was possibly on foot or riding in a vehicle exploded on Sunday evening under the Mampang Prapatan flyover, South Jakarta, just four days after a hand grenade exploded under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta.
In the Slipi flyover incident, one man eventually died of blast injuries.
It is feared among lower-ranking police officers from the Jakarta Police that a blast could occur under the Taman Ria- Senayan flyover in Senayan, Central Jakarta, located about 500 meters away from the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives building.
The Assembly is slated to convene a special session on August 1, that will likely lead to the removal from office of President Abdurrahman Wahid. (ylt)