Papua Police send bomb disposal unit to investigate WWII-era bomb explosion in Biak

Jayapura (ANTARA) – The Papua Police’s Brimob unit has deployed a bomb disposal unit (Jibom) to investigate the explosion of a World War II-era bomb in Biak Numfor Regency. The 16-member Jibom team, led by AKP Hanasbey, was dispatched to Biak on Monday (1 June). ‘Upon arrival in Biak, the Jibom team will immediately proceed to the crime scene at the fishing complex to check for any remaining WWII bomb remnants,’ said Brimob Unit Commander Kombes Adarma Sinaga to ANTARA in Jayapura on Monday. He added that the Jibom team sent to Biak is equipped with standard operational procedure (SOP) compliant gear. According to reports received by Adarma, the WWII-era bomb that exploded on Sunday (31 May) in a Biak residential area resulted in five deaths and four houses severely damaged. Meanwhile, Biak Numfor Police Chief AKBP Ari Trestiawan separately stated that the crime scene of the WWII bomb explosion has been cordoned off with police lines. ‘Since yesterday (Sunday, 31 May), the public has been advised not to approach the crime scene due to concerns of possible additional unexploded ordnance,’ he said. He added that authorities are awaiting the arrival of the Brimob Jibom team to confirm whether the site is safe before conducting a crime scene investigation.