Police have lead on bomb suspects
Police have lead on bomb suspects
JAKARTA (JP): Police appear to be a long way from finding
those responsible for Monday's bomb blast at the Istiqlal Grand
Mosque, but said on Tuesday they had visual identifications of
two men seen speeding from the scene.
"Based on information from witnesses, police have identified
the physical appearances of the suspects. We only need to further
develop the identifications before making any arrests," city
police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Tuesday.
After the blast on Monday, police questioned about a dozen
people, including security guards and parking attendants at
Jakarta's largest mosque.
Sketches of the two men's faces were then developed, the two-
star general said.
Two men, riding on a black RX-King motorcycle, were spotted by
parking attendant Nur Akhmad hastily leaving the mosque compound
shortly after the explosion.
The two sped toward Petojo, where the witness lost sight of
them in the traffic on one of the city's busy areas in Central
Jakarta.
Police did not give details about the type of explosives used,
saying it was more important to concentrate on solving the case
than reveal the chemical makeup of the explosives.
"If we can arrest the culprits, we'll surely uncover their
work. So let's finish our job one step at a time," Noegroho said
before a meeting with Greater Jakarta's Muslim figures.
The Islamic leaders were invited by Noegroho on Tuesday to
brief the police on the various Islamic groups in the capital.
A leader of the Indonesian Committee for Islamic World
Solidarity (KISDI), H.A. Sumargono, said: "We'll reveal to Pak
Noegroho the groups (we know of) that may have been responsible
for this act."
Manarul Hidayat, chairman of the Ittihadul Muballighin
organization, however, stressed that the bombing was not aimed at
Islam or Muslims, but at stirring further chaos in the country.
"The suspects are not necessarily Christians or people of
religions other than Islam," he said, adding that Muslim leaders
would be responsible for calming people so they are not easily
provoked.
On Tuesday afternoon, visitors continued to arrive at the 38-
year-old mosque designed by the late Frederik Silaban, a
Christian.
No tight security was seen around the mosque, and people
entered and left the compound unchecked. However, trucks of
soldiers were deployed to guard the Cathedral Church across from
the mosque.
Security was tightened in other major buildings, including
City Hall and the City Council complex.
Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi
instructed the city's five mayoralties to be on alert and to give
hourly reports on security developments to City Hall.
Bomb threats
As people waited on Tuesday for the latest news on the
investigation into the mosque blast, two bomb threats, which
turned out to be hoaxes, were received at the 19th century
Cathedral Church, and another at state television station TVRI
later in the afternoon.
The telephone threat at the church was received at 10:30 a.m.
by Yanti, an administrative employee in the church, who
immediately notified the Gambir police station.
After a 45 minute search, the bomb squad had found nothing
suspicious and declared the threat a hoax.
Father Wisnu at the church said the female caller did not give
any details as to where the bomb was placed in the church.
"Yanti asked her where the bomb was located, but before she
could finish her question, the caller hung up," Wisnu told
reporters.
The bomb squad, who left the church compound at about 2 p.m.,
later were called to TVRI on Jl. Gerbang Pemuda in Senayan,
Central Jakarta, after receiving news that the station had also
received a bomb threat.
Again, the squad declared the telephone call a hoax after
failing to find anything suspicious.
Shop owners at the Mangga Dua shopping center said the
Istiqlal incident and the bomb hoaxes were beginning to scare
Chinese entrepreneurs.
Yohannes Haryanto, a clothing exporter, said on Tuesday: "No
entrepreneur, no investor will want to work in the country if the
Indonesian government and the Armed Forces (ABRI) cannot secure
this country."
"This blast has scared us, so don't be shocked if this center
closes down during the elections," he said.
Nince Anggono, another exporter who also has a clothing retail
shop in the shopping center, said it was rumored all shops there
would close down from May 1.
"If it does happen, I will be the first to close my shop. I
might as well get out of the city," Nince said, who did not say
where she would go.
"It's just too dangerous here," she said.
Stanley, a board member of PT Duta Pertiwi, which manages the
Mangga Dua and ITC shopping centers, said: "Many of my friends
have flown away. This is just not done... The police and the
military must take immediate action." (ind/emf/ylt)