High explosive device caused Istiqlal blast
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)