Six hurt in grenade blast in Surabaya

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An old grenade exploded in a Surabaya house on Friday, injuring at least six people, police said.

Three of the victims suffered serious burns to the face and hands after the blast in the home of scrap metal dealer H. Sana in Petekan, Ujung, at 5:30 p.m., Antara reported.

"This is an ordinary accident," Surabaya Police spokesman Harunanteo told AFP.

Sources said the business was unaware that a filing cabinet they had recently purchased contained the 50-year-old grenade.

Scrap metal inside the cabinet exacerbated the effects of the blast, sending hot steal shooting through the room.

The sources said the cabinet was bought from Jl. Ikan Mungsing in the Tanjung Perak port area, Surabaya.

A doctor at Dr. Soetomo general hospital said he found pieces of the scrap metal in the faces, hands and feet of the victims, identified as Kholik, 43, Edi, 29, Rochim, 36, Sudeli, 25, Haderi, 20, and Mat Holi, 22.

Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. Ade Rahardja, who visited the scene, confirmed the explosion was from an old grenade. "For sure, it was not a bomb."

He said his office were questioning a number of witnesses, including the injured victims who were able to talk.

Meanwhile, residents said Sana was visiting Madura island when the blast occurred.

A series of bombings have rocked several parts of Indonesia. The most recent blast was outside the House of Representatives building last Monday. Nobody was hurt in that incident.