Witnesses questioned over minor explosions
Witnesses questioned over minor explosions
JAKARTA (JP): Police are questioning 13 people about three
small explosions that took place in the eastern parking lot of
the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex during a mass prayer on
Sunday.
The blasts, which occurred almost simultaneously at about 9
a.m. near Gate VII of the stadium and beneath a bus in the
parking lot, left seven people injured.
"The explosions were caused by Molotov cocktails fashioned
from three energy drink bottles ... the blasts left a smell of
fuel. The three bottles could have exploded due to the unusually
high temperature," the Central Jakarta Police chief of
operational control, Comr. Paulus Waterpauw, said at the scene.
Evidence gathered by police was taken to Jakarta Police
Headquarters, where 10 people were questioned as witnesses to the
blast.
"One of the witnesses reportedly saw three men he suspects
planted the package carrying the energy drink bottles," Paulus
said.
The injured, who suffered minor burns, are reportedly members
of the Rodhotulsalam Muslim boarding school in Tangerang. They
were identified as Budhri, 21, Jamsari, 16, Mulyadi, 19, Husam,
16, Supriadi, 19, Choironi, 19, and Nanang, 20.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo said the
explosions were an attempt to create chaos.
"The explosions were most likely an attempt to provoke the
masses ... which was why I instructed my officers to remain alert
and to be ready for the worst," Bibit said.
"I am thankful that the people here had the good sense not to
be provoked."
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said security
personnel, both from the police and the military, would remain on
alert across the capital until the middle of May.
"Security measures for Monday onward will remain the same. I
urge all city residents to go about their business as usual, but
to be careful and to be on the alert," Mulyono said on Sunday.
"Should you see or find anything suspicious, do not hesitate
to report it to the nearest police station or to city police
headquarters."
Bombs
In a related development, the National Police bomb squad in
Serang, Banten, is examining 10 bombs discovered by residents of
Margajaya in Cimarga district, Lebak regency. The bombs were
found near Lake Pelayangan on Friday.
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bahrul Alam said on
Sunday that two people were arrested in Bandung in connection
with the finding.
"The Lebak Police have detectives and intelligence officers
investigating the case. The Serang bomb squad so far has said
that the bombs were clearly made by professionals using
electronic detonators," Anton said.
"They also said that of the 10 bombs, six were definitely
live. Police suspect the bombs were to be brought to Jakarta, but
we need more evidence before we can confirm this."
The two suspects arrested were transferred to Lebak Police
office later in the day, Anton said.
According to Anton, the bombs were discovered by an ojek
(motorcycle taxi) driver, Jang Seng, 35, and a resident of
Margajaya, Shyamlawi, 37.
"The two saw an Escudo van parked near Lake Pelayangan on
Friday. They saw two men get out of the van carrying a heavy-
looking white sack and walk toward the lake, near Jl. Raya
Leuwidamar," he said.
"The two eyewitnesses saw the men tie a large stone to the
sack and drop it in the lake. The men then got into their van and
sped off toward the nearby town of Rangkasbitung."
Anton said the two eyewitnesses were able to write down the
registration number of the van.
Jang Seng and Shyamlawi retrieved the sack from the lake and
inspected its contents, Anton said.
"The two witnesses were shocked to find 10 small cylinder-like
cans with lots of wires. They immediately contacted us," he said.
He added that the Lebak Police notified the police in Bandung,
where the van was registered.
"The police there got hold of the owner of the van, who is a
resident of central Bandung," he said. (ylt)
JAKARTA (JP): Police are questioning 13 people about three
small explosions that took place in the eastern parking lot of
the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex during a mass prayer on
Sunday.
The blasts, which occurred almost simultaneously at about 9
a.m. near Gate VII of the stadium and beneath a bus in the
parking lot, left seven people injured.
"The explosions were caused by Molotov cocktails fashioned
from three energy drink bottles ... the blasts left a smell of
fuel. The three bottles could have exploded due to the unusually
high temperature," the Central Jakarta Police chief of
operational control, Comr. Paulus Waterpauw, said at the scene.
Evidence gathered by police was taken to Jakarta Police
Headquarters, where 10 people were questioned as witnesses to the
blast.
"One of the witnesses reportedly saw three men he suspects
planted the package carrying the energy drink bottles," Paulus
said.
The injured, who suffered minor burns, are reportedly members
of the Rodhotulsalam Muslim boarding school in Tangerang. They
were identified as Budhri, 21, Jamsari, 16, Mulyadi, 19, Husam,
16, Supriadi, 19, Choironi, 19, and Nanang, 20.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo said the
explosions were an attempt to create chaos.
"The explosions were most likely an attempt to provoke the
masses ... which was why I instructed my officers to remain alert
and to be ready for the worst," Bibit said.
"I am thankful that the people here had the good sense not to
be provoked."
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said security
personnel, both from the police and the military, would remain on
alert across the capital until the middle of May.
"Security measures for Monday onward will remain the same. I
urge all city residents to go about their business as usual, but
to be careful and to be on the alert," Mulyono said on Sunday.
"Should you see or find anything suspicious, do not hesitate
to report it to the nearest police station or to city police
headquarters."
Bombs
In a related development, the National Police bomb squad in
Serang, Banten, is examining 10 bombs discovered by residents of
Margajaya in Cimarga district, Lebak regency. The bombs were
found near Lake Pelayangan on Friday.
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bahrul Alam said on
Sunday that two people were arrested in Bandung in connection
with the finding.
"The Lebak Police have detectives and intelligence officers
investigating the case. The Serang bomb squad so far has said
that the bombs were clearly made by professionals using
electronic detonators," Anton said.
"They also said that of the 10 bombs, six were definitely
live. Police suspect the bombs were to be brought to Jakarta, but
we need more evidence before we can confirm this."
The two suspects arrested were transferred to Lebak Police
office later in the day, Anton said.
According to Anton, the bombs were discovered by an ojek
(motorcycle taxi) driver, Jang Seng, 35, and a resident of
Margajaya, Shyamlawi, 37.
"The two saw an Escudo van parked near Lake Pelayangan on
Friday. They saw two men get out of the van carrying a heavy-
looking white sack and walk toward the lake, near Jl. Raya
Leuwidamar," he said.
"The two eyewitnesses saw the men tie a large stone to the
sack and drop it in the lake. The men then got into their van and
sped off toward the nearby town of Rangkasbitung."
Anton said the two eyewitnesses were able to write down the
registration number of the van.
Jang Seng and Shyamlawi retrieved the sack from the lake and
inspected its contents, Anton said.
"The two witnesses were shocked to find 10 small cylinder-like
cans with lots of wires. They immediately contacted us," he said.
He added that the Lebak Police notified the police in Bandung,
where the van was registered.
"The police there got hold of the owner of the van, who is a
resident of central Bandung," he said. (ylt)