Firecrackers go off at police station

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)