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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 the center of Indonesia’s capital on Thursday in attacks that authorities investigated as possible attempts by Islamic State followers to stage a Paris-style rampage in the teeming streets of Jakarta. Five attackers were among the seven dead. Militants staged suicide bombings and opened fire in the center of Indonesia’s capital on Thursday in attacks investigated as 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.
There was no immediate claim of responsibly, but 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.There was no immediate claim of responsibly, but 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.
If confirmed, it would mark one of the group’s deepest reaches into Asia after carrying out violence in North Africa, Europe and possibly linked to Tuesday’s suicide blast that killed 10 German tourists in the shadow of Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque. [Islamic State finds resistance in militant haven Pakistan]
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 opened with a suicide blast at a Starbucks while two 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 opened 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.
As police swarmed the area, the remaining attacker opened fire, touching a 15-minute gun battle that left two assailants dead, Karnavian said. As police swarmed the area, the remaining attackers opened fire, touching 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 lock down, including areas near the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic sites. At the Starbucks, six bombs were found stashed. Security forces later put the streets on lock down, including areas near the U.S. and French embassy 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 speculated that the plot tried to copy the Nov. 13 terror attacks across Paris that left 130 people dead.He speculated that the plot tried to copy the Nov. 13 terror attacks across Paris that left 130 people dead.
In 2009, militants in Jakarta staged attacks at Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels, killing seven people. Five years earlier, bombings at nightclubs on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. “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.”
Indonesian officials had warned last month of a “credible threat” of an attack in the world’s largest Muslim nation and brought out 150,000 security personnel to keep an eye on churches, airports and other places, the Associated Press reported. Although authorities appeared focus 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.
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.
Last month, Indonesian officials had warned of a “credible threat” of an attack and brought out 150,000 security personnel to help guard on 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.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.