Firecrackers go off at police station

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Six police officers, three men and two children were injured when thousands of confiscated firecrackers exploded at Banjarnegara Police Station on Saturday.

The incident occurred when police were interrogating Suhardi, the owner of the firecrackers.

It is believed the firecrackers ignited due to the heat when they were placed in buckets on a badminton court in the station compound.

Antara reported that Suhardi, 56, and two witnesses in the case were among those injured.

Uli, 6, and Sasa, 5, the children of one of the police officers, were also hurt as the firecrackers flew in different directions.

The Banjarnegara Police chief, Lt. Col. Imam Basuki, was at the station when the explosion occurred but was unhurt.

Police confiscated six boxes of firecrackers, each consisting of tens of thousands of sticks, early Saturday morning from Suhardi's house.

According to police, Suhardi purchased the firecrackers in the town of Tegal and planned to sell them during the coming Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan when firecrackers are a popular diversion. (04)