Shootout occurs on the street

LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh: An armed gang and police officers exchanged fire in a new incident early Saturday, the military said here on Saturday.

Col. Jhonny Wahab, commander of the Liliwangsa military district, said a number of estimated casualties was not available and details of the incident remain unclear.

"I have yet to receive a report on the casualties in the skirmish," he said.

The military, he added, had received two different versions of the encounter.

According to the first version, the clash took place when members of the joint police-military Crack Riot Troop (PPRM) task force together with the North Aceh Police were checking passing vehicles for firearms.

"When some security officers approached a car, they were suddenly fired upon by people inside the vehicle. The officers instantly returned fire, but the assailants fled the scene in their car.

"This reportedly happened at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday," Wahab said.

The second version has it that security officers were attacked by members of an unidentified armed gang in front of the North Aceh Police station, he said.

The time of the attack was said to be at about 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. Some PPRM officers guarding the police headquarters said they had been alerted by gunfire directed at the headquarters.

The officer in charge of the police station, Lt. Col. Iskandar Hasan, could not be reached for comment.

The atmosphere in Lhokseumawe during daylight hours on Saturday otherwise appeared calm and people were going about their business as usual.

Public transportation services were also operating normally.

However, air filled with tension after dusk.