Molotov cocktail explodes on house

JAKARTA (JP): A Molotov cocktail exploded on the roof of a house of a junior high school teacher in Sungai Bambu, North Jakarta, stunning the family and their neighbors on Tuesday evening.

No serious damage was sustained but the blast left a hole 20- centimeters in diameter in the roof.

According to Idries, a teacher at the state-run SMPN 24 junior high school, he and his son were playing inside the house, located near the Ancol toll road at about 9 p.m., when they were interrupted by the sound of "something falling on the roof".

"We ignored it at first, until it exploded seconds later."

Stunned by the blast, he and his son rushed outside and saw smoke billowing from the roof.

"I promptly turned the electricity off to avoid possible danger."

Concerned about the incident, Idries woke his wife, who was asleep with their small daughter.

After nervously waiting a few minutes, he asked neighbors to assist him to check the roof.

"We found a bottle on the roof and reported the case to police."

According to City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis, the top of the aluminum bottle was burned.

"The investigation is still underway."

North Jakarta Police detective chief Maj. Heru Winarko suspected that the homemade bomb may been thrown by a passing motorist.

"But it is too early to speculate about the motive behind the throwing." (emf)