This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35309195

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Jakarta blasts: Bombs and gunfire in Indonesian capital Jakarta blasts: Bombs and gunfire rock Indonesian capital
(35 minutes later)
A series of bomb blasts have rocked the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, followed by reports of continuing gunfire and at least three people killed. A series of bomb blasts have rocked the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, followed continuing gunfire and reports of further explosions.
Blasts hit several locations, including the Sarinah shopping centre, near the presidential palace and UN offices. At least four people have been killed by the blasts, which hit locations including a shopping centre near the presidential palace and UN offices.
A BBC reporter at the scene said police have cordoned off the area. He said they were occasionally taking cover behind cars. Hundreds of police, including snipers, are on the streets exchanging fire with suspected attackers.
There is no indication yet of who might be behind the assault.There is no indication yet of who might be behind the assault.
Indonesia has been attacked by Islamist militant groups in the past and has been on high alert. Indonesia has been attacked by Islamist militant groups in the past and has recently been on high alert after threats from the so-called Islamic State.
LIVE coverage of Jakarta attacks
'Gunfire right now''Gunfire right now'
BBC Indonesia reporter Jerome Wirawan, who is at the scene, said police had cordoned off the area around the Sarinah junction, where at least one of the blasts happened.
National police spokesman told AFP people had been warned to stay indoors in case of further explosions.National police spokesman told AFP people had been warned to stay indoors in case of further explosions.
A UN official, Jeremy Douglas, told the BBC had been about 150m away from one of the blasts near the UN building.A UN official, Jeremy Douglas, told the BBC had been about 150m away from one of the blasts near the UN building.
"Then we ran into the building. We heard a third explosion. We got up to our office on the tenth floor and we heard a fourth, a fifth and a sixth."Then we ran into the building. We heard a third explosion. We got up to our office on the tenth floor and we heard a fourth, a fifth and a sixth.
"There is gunfire going on in the street right now.""There is gunfire going on in the street right now."
A Reuters photographer said one explosion had been at a Starbucks cafe, with its windows blown out.A Reuters photographer said one explosion had been at a Starbucks cafe, with its windows blown out.
He said police appeared to be aiming guns at a man on the roof of the building.He said police appeared to be aiming guns at a man on the roof of the building.
This is the first major attack on Jakarta since the 2009 bombing of the Marriot and Ritz hotels. 'Maximum damage' - Karishma Vaswani, BBC News
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani says Jakarta police had been warning of a possible attack for some time, but that this appears to be a very different style of attack from those seen in the city before. Although it's unclear who is behind these attacks and too early to say who might be responsible. Jakarta police have been saying for sometime that an attack on Indonesian soil may be just a matter of time.
The initial nature of these attacks appear designed to elicit maximum damage.
Although no-one has claimed responsibility for these attacks, in the last few years there have been anywhere between 150-200 Indonesians who it is thought have gone to Syria to fight with IS.
Many have since returned and the police have thought that they might be preparing an attack in Indonesia.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation but by and large is secular, although in recent years the threat of radicalism has remained high as small networks of militants are still thought to be operating in the country.