Police in the dark about Slipi blast
Police in the dark about Slipi blast
JAKARTA (JP): The police said on Thursday that Wednesday's
explosion under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta was caused by a
light explosive, but they had no clue on the motive behind the
blast.
Deputy chief of the National Police Forensics Laboratory
(Puslabfor) Sr. Comr. Dudon Setia Putra told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday that the blast was caused by a light explosive.
Other sources at Puslabfor and city police said that the cause
of the blast was a Korean-made hand grenade.
"It was a hand grenade, thrown out of a truck," a city police
official told reporters on Thursday.
The blast occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday when an
object was reportedly thrown out of a truck crossing the Slipi
toll flyover. The object exploded and injured at least 14 people.
No fatalities were reported.
Five victims were being treated at Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital. They are Samadi, 29, Suparmin, 30, Togar Budi Sugianto,
23, Andi Lala, 16, Romadon, 12.
City police and West Jakarta Police have seized three trucks
and questioned at least 22 people, including victims of the
blast, but are still in the dark about the blast.
"Six of the 22 being investigated might become suspects. But
we are still investigating and cannot say anything for sure,"
West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Iwan Nurisman Ismet told
reporters.
Iwan identified the six people who might become suspects as
Kohar, Yasin, Dani, Ari, Paiton and Sarwono, all of whom were
either truck drivers or their assistants.
He added that the registration numbers of three trucks seized
following Wednesday's blast were still being investigated.
"Of the three, one of the two East Java numbers has become our
top priority for investigation," Iwan said.
Wednesday's blast was the 14th major bomb explosion in the
capital within the past six months.
Separately, City Governor Sutiyoso suggested on Thursday that
a special intelligence team, comprising military and police
officials, be established for hunting down bombing suspects.
"Military and police officers should be involved in the team.
I believe that the masterminds behind the recent bombings are
living in the capital," Sutiyoso told reporters.
Sutiyoso, former Jakarta Military commander, said certain
units in the military, which have special skills, could be asked
to monitor bombing activities and trace suspects.
He acknowledged that such a team would need funding for its
intelligence operations and promised that the city administration
would help fund the team.
"Such a team is badly needed. The city administration will
support this considering the high frequency of bombings here,"
Sutiyoso said.
He blamed lack of funds and manpower for the police's failure
to solve a number of bombing cases in the capital.
The governor promised that the city would expedite the
disbursement of Rp 1 billion (US$89,250) in funds per quarter to
help city police finance its operations to secure the city.
"We know that police need money to secure the city. We will
help them," Sutiyoso said. (ylt/jun)
Major bomb explosions in Jakarta 1999-2001
Date
Venue
Casualties
Status
Jan. 2, 1999
Ramayana store, Jl. H. Agus Salim, C. Jakarta
None
Four suspects tried
April 15, 1999
Hayam Wuruk Plaza, W. Jakarta
None
Unknown
April 19, 1999
Istiqlal Mosque, C. Jakarta
Four injured
Seven suspects tried
July 4, 2000
Attorney General's Office, S. Jakarta
None
Unknown
Aug.1, 2000
The Philippine ambassador's residence, C. Jakarta
Two dead, 21 injured
Unknown
Aug.27, 2000
Parking lot of Malaysian Embassy, S. Jakarta
None
*Related to JSX blast
Sept.14, 2000
Basement parking lot of JSX building, S. Jakarta
10 dead 46 injured
At least eight suspects on trial
Nov.16, 2000
(grenade attack) Governor Sutiyoso's residence in Menteng, C. Jakarta
One injured
Unknown
Nov.17, 2000
Hotel Omni Batavia, W. Jakarta
None
Unknown
Dec. 25, 2000
(Part of a series of attacks in several places throughout the country)
Unknown
Outside Santo Yosef church in Matraman, E. Jakarta
Three dead Dozens injured
Unknown
Outside Kanisius church in Cikini, C. Jakarta
None
Unknown
Outside a church in Halim Perdanakusuma, E. Jakarta
None
Unknown
Outside the Cathedral in Pasar Baru, C. Jakarta
None
Unknown
Outside the Anglican church in Menteng, C. Jakarta (defused)
None
Unknown
March 17, 2001
Railroad at Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang
None
Unknown
May 11, 2001
Acehnese student dormitory, Jl. Perahu, Guntur, S. Jakarta
Three dead two injured
Unknown
June 22, 2001
A boardinghouse in Pancoran, S. Jakarta
Five injured
Unknown
July 11, 2001
Slipi intersection, W. Jakarta
14 injured
Unknown