Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Richard A. L. Williams

Jakarta attacks: Starbucks suicide bomb blasts and gun assaults in Indonesia capital leave at least seven dead

Suicide bomb blasts and gun attacks have left at least seven people - including four militants - dead in the centre of Indonesia's capital.

No one has claimed responsibility for the apparently co-ordinated deadly assault - which police say involved up to 14 militants - but it follows threats by Isis to put the country in its "spotlight".

An armed Indonesian police officer points his gun as he secures the area

Amid an ongoing battle between militants and security services, Jakarta police spokesman Colonel Muhammad Iqbal said officers had recovered the bodies of four attackers. It was not clear if more remained at large.

Bank security guard Tri Seranto said he saw at least five attackers, including three suicide bombers who entered a nearby Starbucks and blew themselves up.

Indonesian police take position and aim their weapons as they pursue suspects

He said he saw two other men carrying handguns walk into a police post before hearing gunfire emerge from the base.

Mr Seranto said he later saw one policeman dead and three seriously injured. Two gunmen were seen running away with police in pursuit.

Police officers react near the site of a blast in Jakarta

Meanwhile, a Reuters photographer who witnessed the aftermath of the explosions said: "The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out.

"I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him."

An Indonesian policeman near the site of a blast

Following the first explosions, a gun-battle broke out between the attackers and anti-terror police, and gunfire could be heard more than an hour later.

About two hours later, another explosion was heard from a cafe near the Starbucks, about five minutes after 25 anti-terror policemen entered. It was not clear if the explosion was a controlled detonation or a bomb. 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo labelled the killings "acts of terror" and urged people to remain calm.

"This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people," he said in statement on television.

"Our nation and our people should not be afraid, we will not be defeated by these acts of terror, I hope the public stay calm."

There were also unconfirmed reports of blasts outside the city's United Nations office and in Cikni, Silpi and Kuningan neighborhoods - near the Turkish and Pakistani embassies.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.