Packaged bomb explodes

SEMARANG (JP): A hand-delivered gift-wrapped package containing a home-made bomb exploded here Friday, seriously injuring an elderly woman and her son.

Try Mulyono, a resident of Jl. Batik Sari, who owns an electronic goods repair shop, received the small package from a pedicab driver at about 7 p.m. It exploded when he opened it half an hour later.

Neighbors rushed 26-year-old Try and his mother, Elsa Suhartini, to Panti Wiloso Hospital, where they were still being treated yesterday. Try suffered injuries on his head, face and stomach, while Elsa was injured on both of her hands.

The roof and walls of Elsa's house were also damaged.

Police chief Lt. Col. Soenarko said an investigation has been launched but police suspect the pedicab driver was actually a business competitor who was jealous of Try's thriving business. (har)