Mall worker foils bomb attempt

Mikael Onny Setiawan, The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan

Police defused on Tuesday night a bomb that was discovered in Fantasy Mall in the East Kalimantan city of Balikpapan, which is home to several foreign oil and mining companies.

The bomb, described as a low-explosive device, was inside a black plastic bag in the mall's Amazone game center. It was found by an employee at about 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday, as employees were preparing to leave for the night.

The employee reported the suspicious package to a mall security guard, identified as Rudi Hartono.

When the guard opened the bag and saw wires and other electronic components, he immediately alerted the Balikpapan Police.

The bomb squad arrived at the mall in less than 30 minutes and transported the bomb out of the shopping center in order to defuse it.

Bomb squad chief Adj. Comr. Sunardi, accompanied by Balikpapan Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr M. Firman, said the bomb was a low-explosive device.

After defusing the bomb, officers combed the mall for any additional explosive devices, eventually declaring the area safe at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

Extra security guards and police officers were seen at the mall when it opened on Wednesday morning, but that was the only indication anything had happened.

Over the last two months, several businesses in Balikpapan have received bomb threats from unidentified callers. However, this is the first time a bomb has been discovered

Last month, an unidentified caller said a bomb had been planted aboard a Lion Air flight from Jakarta. The threat was received some 10 minutes before the plane landed in Balikpapan.

Similar threats have been received by BRI Bank and SMU N4 high school.

Meanwhile, detectives chief Firman said the Balikpapan Police were questioning a man who resembled terror suspect Dul Matin, who is wanted in connection with the 2002 Bali bombings.