High explosive device caused Istiqlal blast
JAKARTA (JP): Police announced on Thursday that the blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque was caused by a bomb made from a highly explosive mixture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and potassium chlorate.
Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman told reporters that investigative police, who have little clue about those responsible for Monday's blast or their motives, recently received the results from the National Police Forensic Laboratory analysis.
According to the report, the explosives were connected to a timed detonator.
"But there was not a large amount of explosives used. The bomb had a highly destructive effect mainly because it was placed on the ground floor of the mosque," Noegroho said.
The two-star general, however, refused to comment on where such explosive ingredients could be obtained here. Many suspect the military of being involved in the bombing.
Such explosive substances are sold to certain industries, including the military and mining companies.
Monday's explosion shattered dozens of windows and cracked the walls of Islamic organization offices on the ground floor of the mosque.
Police are searching for two men seen by witnesses leaving the scene on an RX King motorcycle immediately after the explosion. A likeness of one of the suspects has been widely circulated and published by the media across the country.
The explosive devices are believed to have been placed on the floor in front of the office of the Indonesian Islamic Women's Organization Conference (BMOWI), which is opposite the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) office.
The blast, which occurred at 3:20 p.m., also damaged several other offices in the vicinity.
The ground floor of the mosque is home to 21 offices, including the Marital Counseling (BP4) headquarters, Indonesian Committee for World Moslem Solidarity (Kisdi), the Muslim Forum to Uphold Constitution and Justice (Furqon), Coordinating Board for Indonesian Mosque Youth Organizations (BKPRMI), and the Board of Indonesian Mosques (DMI).
Travelers and homeless people frequently spend the night in the area and students rest there in the afternoons while waiting for prayer time.
Separately on Thursday, A. Cholik, head of the maintenance department, said the explosion had damaged 110 window panes in the mosque.
The installation of the new windows will begin on Friday.
"The windows panes are now being prepared at a glass shop," Cholik said.
He estimated the window replacement and other repair work, such as repainting walls and repairing broken air conditioning pipes, would cost at least Rp 500 million (US$87,800).
According to Cholik, the funds required for the repair work have already been collected by the management, thanks to the enthusiasm of donors.
One individual donor contributed half of the money required, he added.
The Tempo weekly magazine donated replacement windows for the office of the Indonesian Ulema Council.
"We so far have no problems with the funds needed for the repairs," Cholik said.
In the near future, he added, the ground floor of the mosque would be protected with fences and gates to prevent people entering without being checked and identified.
In the meantime, he said, people can freely enter the ground floor.
Similar fences will also be built on the first floor of the mosque, he said, adding that the construction of the fences will cost about Rp 3 billion.
"We hope the government will help finance the project," Cholik said. (emf/jun)