Six questioned over bomb blast

JAKARTA (JP): Police have questioned six people in connection with Saturday's bomb blast which badly damaged the vacant Ramayana department store on Jl. H. Agus Salim in Central Jakarta, an official said on Sunday.

City police detectives chief Alex Bambang Riatmojo said the people, including two store security guards, were questioned as witnesses.

"We have no suspects so far. The people were just questioned, not arrested. We are still trying to thoroughly investigate the case."

He did not give details on the four others, saying only they were at the scene when the bomb exploded at the store at about 5 a.m.

He refused comment on whether the blast was related to a land dispute between the owners of the plot on which the store stands and the state Bank Dagang Negara branch situated behind it.

Alex also refused to speculate whether the blast was connected to an explosion at an ATM booth of Bank Central Asia at Atrium Senen shopping center on Dec. 11.

"We will investigate all possible factors," he said.

Many people turned out to look at the damaged building on Sunday. Police sealed off the site with wire fencing.

No injuries were reported in the incident. The street, popularly known as Jl. Sabang, was deserted when the explosion happened.

Total losses have yet to be estimated from the blast, which also damaged windows of nearby shops and billboards.

Witnesses to the blast said a group of at least six men arrived at the site, using three motorcycles, a red Feroza jeep and a white Kijang van.

They placed devices in front of three business premises and left the site in their vehicles.

The first bomb exploded outside Ramayana, vacant since it was damaged during the mid-May riot. (jun)