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Militants strike Indonesia’s capital, killing 2 as police probe Islamic State links Militants strike Indonesia’s capital, killing 2 as police probe Islamic State links
(35 minutes later)
Militants staged suicide bombings and opened fire in Indonesia’s capital on Thursday in attacks described by authorities as attempts by Islamic State followers to stage a Paris-style rampage through the teeming streets of Jakarta. Five attackers were among the seven dead. Militants staged suicide bombings and opened fire in Indonesia’s capital on Thursday in possible attempts by Islamic State followers to stage a Paris-style rampage through the teeming streets of Jakarta. Five attackers were among the seven dead.
A spokesman for Indonesia’s national police, Maj. Gen. Anton Charilyan, said the attackers had been identified and were believed “affiliated” with the Islamic State — possibly linked to an Indonesian group that has sent volunteers to fight in Syria. A spokesman for Indonesia’s national police, Maj. Gen. Anton Charilyan, said the assailants had been identified and were “affiliated” with the Islamic State — possibly linked to an Indonesian group that has sent volunteers to fight in Syria.
A message purportedly posted by the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant websites. Earlier, a group with ties to the Islamic State, the Aamaaq news agency, posted an Internet message claiming the attacks were carried out by  “Islamic State fighters.” The claims could not immediately be confirmed.
[Islamic State finds resistance in militant haven Pakistan][Islamic State finds resistance in militant haven Pakistan]
A statement by a group with ties to the Islamic State, the Aamaaq news agency, posted an Internet message claiming that “Islamic State fighters” carried out the attacks, the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant websites. If verified, the Islamic State’s involvement would mark one of the group’s deepest reaches into Asia — and the capital of the world’s most populous Muslim nation — after waging bloodshed in North Africa, Europe and possibly with Tuesday’s suicide blast that killed 10 German tourists in the shadow of Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque.
If confirmed, it would mark one of the group’s deepest reaches into Asia — and into the world’s most populous Muslim nation — after carrying out bloodshed in North Africa, Europe and possibly in Tuesday’s suicide blast that killed 10 German tourists in the shadow of Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque.
The Jakarta assailants appeared outfitted for a running siege: armed with handguns, grenades and homemade bombs, police said. They also followed tactics that have become a hallmark of recent urban terrorism — hitting targets with limited security.The Jakarta assailants appeared outfitted for a running siege: armed with handguns, grenades and homemade bombs, police said. They also followed tactics that have become a hallmark of recent urban terrorism — hitting targets with limited security.
The mayhem began with a suicide blast at a Starbucks while gunmen outside opened fire, killing a Canadian man, said Jakarta police chief Maj. Gen. Tito Karnavian. Moments later, two suicide bombers struck a traffic police post, killing themselves and an Indonesian man. The mayhem began with a suicide blast at a Starbucks while gunmen outside opened fire, killing a Canadian man, said Jakarta’s police chief, Maj. Gen. Tito Karnavian. Moments later, two suicide bombers struck a traffic police post, killing themselves and an Indonesian man.
As police swarmed the area, the remaining attackers opened fire, touching off a 15-minute gun battle that left two assailants dead, Karnavian said. At least 19 people were wounded in the chaos that unfolded amid luxury hotels, shops and office towers.As police swarmed the area, the remaining attackers opened fire, touching off a 15-minute gun battle that left two assailants dead, Karnavian said. At least 19 people were wounded in the chaos that unfolded amid luxury hotels, shops and office towers.
[Malaysia police on alert after Jakarta attack][Malaysia police on alert after Jakarta attack]
Security forces later put the streets on lockdown, including areas near the U.S. and French embassies and other diplomatic sites. At the Starbucks, six hand-crafted explosive devices were found stashed.Security forces later put the streets on lockdown, including areas near the U.S. and French embassies and other diplomatic sites. At the Starbucks, six hand-crafted explosive devices were found stashed.
“So we think … their plan was to attack people and follow it up with a larger explosion when more people gathered,” said the police spokesman Charilyan. “But thank God it didn’t happen.”“So we think … their plan was to attack people and follow it up with a larger explosion when more people gathered,” said the police spokesman Charilyan. “But thank God it didn’t happen.”
He said the range of weapons and targets suggested an attempt to copy the Nov. 13 terror attacks across Paris that left 130 people dead.He said the range of weapons and targets suggested an attempt to copy the Nov. 13 terror attacks across Paris that left 130 people dead.
Karvavian, the police chief, identified the suspected lead plotter as Indonesian fugitive Bahrun Naim, who is believed to be in the Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold, Raqqa. Naim is described as the leader of Katibah Nusantara, a Southeast Asian-based armed faction with Islamic State connections. Karnavian, the police chief, identified the suspected lead plotter as Indonesian fugitive Bahrun Naim, who is believed to be in the Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold, Raqqa. Naim is described as the leader of Katibah Nusantara, a Southeast Asian-based armed faction with Islamic State connections.
“This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in televised address. “The state, the nation and the people should not be afraid of, and be defeated by, such terror acts.” “This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in a televised address. “The state, the nation and the people should not be afraid of, and be defeated by, such terror acts.”
Although authorities appeared focused on possible Islamic State links, the country is home to other suspected militant factions that have roots going back decades.Although authorities appeared focused on possible Islamic State links, the country is home to other suspected militant factions that have roots going back decades.
On Tuesday, a jailed radical Islamic cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, appealed to an Indonesian court to overturn his conviction for funding a terror training site in Aceh province in the country’s northwest. Bashir’s group, Jemaah Islamiyah, seeks Islamic-style rule and has suspected links to other Islamists factions around Southeast Asia. On Tuesday, a jailed radical Islamist cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, appealed to an Indonesian court to overturn his conviction for funding a terrorist training site in Aceh province in the country’s northwest. Bashir’s group, Jemaah Islamiyah, seeks Islamic-style rule and has suspected links to other Islamist factions around Southeast Asia.
Indonesia sharply bolstered its anti-terror codes and surveillance following bombings in 2002 at nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. In 2009, militants in Jakarta staged suicide attacks at Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels, killing seven people and injuring more than 50. Indonesia sharply bolstered its anti-terrorist codes and surveillance following bombings in 2002 at nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. In 2009, militants in Jakarta staged suicide attacks at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, killing seven people and injuring more than 50.
Last month, Indonesian officials had warned of a “credible threat” of an attack and brought out 150,000 security personnel to help guard churches, airports and other places, the Associated Press reported. Last month, Indonesian officials warned of a “credible threat” of an attack and brought out 150,000 security personnel to help guard churches, airports and other places, the Associated Press reported.
On Jan. 3, the U.S. embassy in Jakarta warned Americans of “a potential threat” against U.S.-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya, about 500 miles east of Jakarta on the island of Java. The U.S. Embassy said it would remain closed Friday. On Jan. 3, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta warned Americans of “a potential threat” against U.S.-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya, about 500 miles east of Jakarta on the island of Java. The U.S. Embassy said it would remain closed Friday.