Several Explosions Rock The Central Jakarta, With Multiple Casualties Reported So Far

Indonesian police have arrested three men on suspicion of links to multiple bomb and gun attacks that turned downtown Jakarta into a conflict zone for three hours on Thursday, leaving seven people dead.

The assault was claimed by Islamic State, an al-Qaida faction that splintered in Iraq and has since spread worldwide. It was the first time the extremist organisation has successfully targeted the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

Police chief Colonel Dwiyono, from the Depok area south of the capital, told Indonesia’s MetroTV the men were arrested at dawn at their homes while they were sleeping. The channel broadcast footage of the handcuffed men being escorted out by police to be questioned.

theguardian.com

The three suspects are from a terror cell linked to Indonesian Bahrun Naim, a fighter with the Islamic State (ISI) who is believed to be in the Syrian city of Raqqa. Police believed he had planned the attack in the Indonesian capital.

The police also confirmed at a press conference on Friday that the five militants in the Jakarta attack were linked to the ISIS, Two of them were possibly former convicts of terrorism.

Security at Indonesian ports, airports as well as places frequented by foreigners, such as embassies and places with foreign investments, have been stepped up.

In the wake of the attacks, the military in the Philippines went on “heightened alert” and security was increased at train and bus stations as well as airports and malls. Four small Islamist militant groups in the country’s south have recently pledged allegiance to Isis.

In Malaysia, police also beefed up security in public places. The inspector-general of police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, said in a statement Malaysia was now on “alert to the highest degree”, according the the Malaysia Insider.

Late on Thursday, Indonesians visited the site of the attacks, a Starbucks and a traffic police outpost, leaving flowers and prayers.

theguardian.com

Witnesses in central Jakarta are reporting they can see three dead bodies, however images seen by the Guardian show at least four people killed.

theguardian.com

Gunshots were heard after the midmorning explosion Thursday in front of the Sarinah shopping mall in an area that also has many luxury hotels, embassies and offices.

It was not clear who was shooting but there was a massive police presence, which prevented reporters from going near the scene.