JAKARTA- A series of bombings has rocked Jakarta near the Sarinah department store on Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, JakartaGlobe reports..
Starting at 10:50am, a series of blasts have gone off in various locations in the city triggering widespread panic.
The first explosion was reported at 10:50 a.m. at the police post at the intersection of Jalan Thamrin and Jalan K.H. Wahid Hasyim, and was followed by five more blasts over the next 10 minutes, including one at the Starbucks at the Skyline building, also at the intersection and adjacent to Sarinah, according to witnesses, according to media reports.
Pic: Jakarta Globe
According to the official Jakarta police Twitter account one explosion went off in front of a shopping centre called the Sarinah mall, on a main city avenue, AFP reports.
At least three people have been confirmed dead, Reuters reports.
Three bodies were seen lying on the ground on a main road in the city after the explosion.
According to media reports, six bombs have gone off and one blast went off in a Starbucks cafe and security forces were later seen entering the building.
“The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but
Pic: The Guardian
3:04PM The Starbucks cafe issued a statement announcing that they will be closing all of their stores across Jakarta as a precautionary measure, The Guardian reports.
They also stated that only one customer was injured during the attack and was treated on site, and all the employees were confirmed to be safe, contradicting a witness statement earlier that three suicide bombers detonated themselves inside the cafe.
2:54PM Police spokesman, Iqbal Kabid told Reuters four attackers have been shot dead and police are securing a building where the attackers were holed up. The gun battle happened at a cinema in the same building as the Starbucks outlet that was attacked.
Via AP:
"Indonesian police shot dead four suspected militants who were part of a bomb and gun attack in the capital, Jakarta, on Thursday and the area is being secured, a police spokesman said.
“We are sterilising the building from basement to top,” Iqbal Kabid told reporters, explaining that a gunbattle between the attackers and police took place in a cinema that is in the same building as a Starbucks cafe that was attacked.
“We will declare the situation secure soon,” Iqbal said.
Police officers pour into the area. Pic: Associated Press
2:28PM According to a BBC report, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has cut short his visit to the West Java town of Cirebon.
"We express condonlence to those who became victims, we all also condemn the attack," he told reporters, AP reports.
He has also ordered security forces to hunt down the perpetrators.
[The story is developing]
2:27PM The head of the national intelligence agency said there is no indications that Islamic State (IS) militants were behind a gun and bomb attack in Jakarta, Reuters reports.
“This is definitely terrorism but there are no indications yet that it’s ISIS related,” said Sutiyoso.
Armoured Personal Carriers (APC) are seen at the scene. Pic: Samantha Hawley's Twit
2:08PM An Associated Press reporter has heard an explosion from a cafe near the Starbucks that was attacked earlier. The explosion occurred after about 25 anti-terror squad police stormed the cafe.
Pic: CNA/ Reuters
1:37PM: Death toll has climbed to 6, 3 policemen and 3 civilians, Reuters reports.
Pic: CNA
1.30PM: Police with sniffer dogs enter the incident area towards Djakarta Theatre. The attackers are still at large, according to a police spokesperson, CNA/AFP reports.
Pic: The Guardian
1:15 PM: At least 7 explosions reported, including 2 suicide bombs. 4 people killed, including 3 suspects. The scene in central Jakarta is still active, with police engaged in gunfire exchange according to The Guardian who have a journalist on site.
An amatuer video which captures the scene of the bomb blast in front of Starbucks Sarinah, Jakarta was recently posted to Youtube.
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- mD
