Molotov cocktails hit Australian school

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta police detectives are searching for a dark-colored Panther van, believed to be used by a group of unidentified people who flung two Molotov cocktails into the Australian International School compound in Pejaten, early on Monday morning, chief of detectives Capt. Rycko Amelza Daniel said.

"That's the only solid clue we have had so far," Rycko told The Jakarta Post.

He added that the school's security guard, who was questioned later in the afternoon, confirmed that the incident happened at about 4:30 a.m.

"The guard said he only got to see the ball of fire, which he immediately put out with the help of a nearby tap and bucket," Rycko said.

"The Molotov cocktails were made in two Krateng Daeng (a brandname of energy drink) bottles," the officer said.

Australian International School principal Penny Robertson confirmed the incident, saying the cocktails only burned a tiny part of the school's driveway.

"No students arrive during early morning hours," she told the Post.

The school had immediately reported the case to the local police, who then deployed 30 officers to help guard the school.

Robertson said the incident did not affect the activities at the three-year-old school, which has 200 students and 20 staff.

"We have about 30 different nationalities of students and teachers here. So it's a threat to many countries, not only Australia," she said.

She stated that school activities would continue as usual.

"The police are so far very cooperative. We hope that they can catch the suspects soon," she said.

The school, she added, had received at least two telephone threats last week from someone claiming to be from a Moslem group, asking the school staff and students to leave the country immediately following the arrival of the Australian-led Interfet (International Force for East Timor) troops in East Timor.

Indonesia and Australia have suffered a severe strain in their relationship due to the East Timor issue.

Even the guard at the international school refused to give his name.

"He asked me not to tell anybody. He said he didn't want his family to suffer, just because Indonesia and Australia are not on good terms." (jun/ylt)