He says security has been increased at public places such as shopping malls and tourists spots, “while extra precautionary actions will be implemented in border areas to prevent possible infiltration by terrorist elements”.
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But when Thursday’s assault in central Jakarta was over, the death toll was far lower. Another 20 people were wounded.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, has been the victim of a string of terrorist attacks over the past decade and a half.
Indonesia has been a victim of several bombing attacks in the past, claimed by Islamic militant groups.
The blasts focused on the Sarinah shopping center in the Indonesian capital with at least one explosion at a Starbucks cafe. “We have taken control”, local police spokesman Col. Muhammad Iqbal. “But thank God it didn’t happen”, Charilyan said.
Jakarta police chief Maj.
He said while Indonesia is generally a “very safe ” country, there is an ever-present background threat due to groups that are sympathetic to al Qaeda and ISIS.
Two more attackers were seized alive, while two more bombs were found undetonated. NPR’s Dina Temple-Raston reports that ISIS claimed responsibility on a website linked to the extremist group.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has condemned the attacks, and said the embassy was making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine if any Australians have been affected. It differed from Indonesian police on the number of attackers, saying there were four. It said they wore suicide belts and carried light weaponry.
Officers said five attackers and two other people were killed in the brazen attacks, which came after police warnings in recent weeks that Islamic militants were planning something big.
Bank Indonesia said last month that it expects the Southeast Asian nation to have posted economic growth of 4.8 percent in 2015, which is near the bottom of its target range and would be the worst performance since 2009.
“We advise British nationals in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia to maintain vigilance and monitor FCO travel advice, local media and to follow the advice of local security authorities”.
Police said the assault on Jakarta is now over and no more perpetrators are at large.
People, including unarmed police officers, flee from the scene after a gun battle broke out following an explosion in Jakarta, Indonesia Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016.
Indonesian workers run as they are evacuated from their office at Thamrin business district in Jakarta, January 14, 2016. An Associated Press photographer saw three bodies behind police lines, lying on a sidewalk.
Media says six bombs went off, one believed to have been a suicide bomber.
The area has many luxury hotels, and offices in high-rise buildings and embassies, including the French.
As people poured out of the cafe, two waiting gunmen opened fire on them. “I pray for speedy recovery of the injured”, he said.
About 30 minutes after his first post about the bombing, he posted that things were “quiet”.
Gunmen fled to the Djakarta Theater, part of the same complex that houses the Starbucks, where a standoff developed with police.
Douglas said he heard a total of six explosions, and watched from his office as a gunfight unfolded in the streets below.
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About five hours after the first explosions, police announced the area was secure.
