GAM blamed for bus attack, 5 injured

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: An armed gang fired on a passenger bus late on Monday in Keude Jurong subdistrict, some 450 kilometers east of Banda Aceh municipality, leaving five passengers injured, three seriously.

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Civil Emergency Administration spokesman Sr. Comr. Sayed Hoesainy said that the shooting occurred when the armed gang, whom he claimed was made up of members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), attempted to stop the bus, operated by the Pelangi company, which was heading to Banda Aceh from Lhokseumawe, North Aceh regency.

The driver of the bus attempted to drive through the roadblock, but the group of assailants sprayed the bus with bullets. -- JP