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)