JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's Metro TV reported four people had died in two separate explosions on Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Marriott Hotel in central Jakarta.
"There were explosions heard from two separate places, one the JW Marriott, the other in the Ritz Carlton. We are still trying to check because right now we are still helping the victims," said South Jakarta Police Chief Firman Santyabudi.
Witnesses at the scene told Metro TV that the injured, including Indonesians and foreigners, were seen being taken away in ambulances.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE56G0EX20090717
An unexploded bomb was also found, so let's hope that nobody else gets hurt by further despicable acts be these would-be murderers.
Jakarta police find bomb control centre in Marriott hotel (http://news.google.com.au/news/url?sa=t&ct2=au%2F0_0_s_0_0_t&usg=AFQjCNE63l2De9lVrtjeScbOF1xW4bleCg&cid=1278724608&ei=AStgSqjFKoj-7AOloO8K&rt=HOMEPAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.news.com.au%2Fs tory%2F0%2C25197%2C25795887-601%2C00.html) [The Australian]
POLICE found an unexploded bomb in a room of the Marriott hotel in downtown Jakarta today as they investigated the terror attacks in the Indonesian capital.
At least nine killed, including one kiwi. :( At least two Aussies injured. That's all I've read so far.
[Google news update link] (http://news.google.com.au/news/more?pz=1&ncl=dRlIrF2RSyzDCpMtpxDRGL4d3_g3M&topic=h)
Attack warnings came hours before blasts (http://news.google.com.au/news/url?sa=t&ct2=au%2F0_0_s_0_3_aa&usg=AFQjCNGtt7_U3jukqfJOL4zUj3Vwv2oLpg&cid=1278724608&ei=AStgSqjFKoj-7AOloO8K&rt=HOMEPAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2Fstories%2 F2009%2F07%2F17%2F2629258.htm%3Fsection%3Dworld) [ABC Online AU]
SMH is calling them the Five Star Killers.
BiziBB
Jul 17, 09, 3:06 am
Possibly a JI suicide terrorist attack.
AP update:
'Indications' Jakarta blasts were suicide bombs (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iq-RSvjSDopV724MnWihBs7hYbpwD99G1V500) [AP]
Theo Sambuaga, chairman of the parliamentary security commission, said "there are indications of suicide bombs" at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Friday morning. "That is being investigated."
The Indonesian security minister and police have said a New Zealander was among those killed.
Thirteen other foreigners were among the wounded, including nationals from the United States, Australia, Canada, India, the Netherlands, Norway and South Korea.
It has been nearly four years since a major terrorist attack in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation
Australian hotline for anyone who needs to check on loved ones: 1300 555 135
GUWonder
Jul 17, 09, 4:03 am
Marriott-branded hotels in Asia seem pretty hard hit this decade. :(
BiziBB
Jul 17, 09, 7:20 am
Sad confirmation from the family of an Australian killed - plus the chilling evidence of this being a suicide terrorist attack, on the basis of the two headless bodies found in the hotel restaurant.
There is a collection of images at the update - SMH - Jakarta hotel bombings kill at least 9 (http://www.smh.com.au/world/unexploded-bomb-found-after-jakarta-hotel-bombings-kill-at-least--9-20090717-dnkd.html?page=-1)
randomtask
Jul 17, 09, 8:40 am
I'm due to arrive in Jakarta on Monday. Security will no doubt be higher and there may still be issues getting around central Jakarta, but the overall advice from the FCO has not altered in light of the events so unless that changes, I'm still heading over.
friggen terrorists... :mad:yup but also add effing cowards as well :mad:
stimpy
Jul 18, 09, 8:46 am
Since it is in my nature to doubt media reports, and I am often right, I wonder if this isn't really terrorism? It is the same management company handling both hotels, right? And thus it may possibly be the same owner? I wonder if any of our media has looked into that? What if this was an attack the owner of the hotels, made to look like terrorism?
Omnivore
Jul 19, 09, 6:34 am
Since it is in my nature to doubt media reports, and I am often right, I wonder if this isn't really terrorism? It is the same management company handling both hotels, right? And thus it may possibly be the same owner? I wonder if any of our media has looked into that? What if this was an attack the owner of the hotels, made to look like terrorism?
So you're suggesting the owner of the hotels is trying to commit insurance fraud?
BiziBB
Jul 19, 09, 7:58 am
SMH (or perhaps news.com.au) had an item mentioning that the Marriott seems to be the Terrorist Choice Chain for bombing.
Firstly, targeting a Marriott (and RC) was reported to be a strategy because it:
- guarantees cut-through coverage (in the western world, compared to bombing a market in, say, Iraq or Pakistan),
- adds to the terrorist history of Marriotts being bombed; specifically the history of bombing Marriotts (twice in Jakarta, plus Islamabad)
- hitting a chain not only kills or injures many innocent (western/businesspeople/successful in life civilians,
- adds to whatever evil propaganda or prestige aims these despicable losers have.
Australia as a country makes good relations and lots of aid and cooperation in many areas a priority with Indonesia. Many, many people are allowed to migrate here and live a better life. Australians run a real risk in staying in this country - as hundreds have found out, twice in Bali and thrice in Jakarta - as the fatalities and injuries attest.
Is Noor Mohamad Top even an Indonesian citizen, taxpayer, resident - or just a fugitive, criminal murderer from Malaysia, sheltered by his terrorist mates in Indo? :mad:
stimpy
Jul 19, 09, 2:14 pm
So you're suggesting the owner of the hotels is trying to commit insurance fraud?
It would be a stretch, but completely possible in that part of the world. Another possibility would be someone who has a grievance against the owner. Since everyone thinks terrorism, it could be the perfect crime.
Gaucho100K
Jul 19, 09, 8:52 pm
It would be a stretch, but completely possible in that part of the world. Another possibility would be someone who has a grievance against the owner. Since everyone thinks terrorism, it could be the perfect crime.
I agree that almost anything is possible in Indonesia (I lived there for a while)... alas, the suicide bomber angle makes this a far stretch.... had the bombs been planted and no evidence of suicide bomber then perhaps I would have entretained this theory... but with the existing leads... dont think so.
Gaucho100K
Jul 19, 09, 8:54 pm
Since it is in my nature to doubt media reports, and I am often right, I wonder if this isn't really terrorism? It is the same management company handling both hotels, right? And thus it may possibly be the same owner? I wonder if any of our media has looked into that? What if this was an attack the owner of the hotels, made to look like terrorism?
Same management companies do not have to mean same owners of the real estate.
BiziBB
Jul 19, 09, 11:54 pm
For anyone interested:
Marriott bomber singled out mining meeting (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25806608-5013404,00.html)[The Australian]
THE three Australians killed in the Marriott hotel attack took the worst of the blast having sat at the corner of the breakfast table closest to the doorway the suicide bomber used to enter the room.
Mining executive Garth McEvoy, diplomat Craig Senger and human resources manager Nathan Verity never stood a chance - and would not have seen the bomber enter the room behind them. Those at the head of the table were more fortunate, shielded from the explosion by two large pillars.
...the former head of Rio Tinto's Indonesian operations and member of the Australian-Indonesian Business Council, Noke Kiroyan, had no doubt the Marriott bomber had directly targeted the 19 businessmen who had gathered.
"That meeting was specifically for a single purpose," Mr Kiroyan said. "I would say the guy didn't turn left to the Sailendra coffee shop but turned right to the JW Marriott lounge, which is exclusively used by our group for these discussions."
A US embassy source confirmed Mr Kiroyan's view that the businessmen were targeted.
"The way it was described to me, he had a backpack strapped on the front and he had a stroller bag, like a pull-carriage (suitcase)," the embassy official told The Australian.
I agree that almost anything is possible in Indonesia (I lived there for a while)... alas, the suicide bomber angle makes this a far stretch.... had the bombs been planted and no evidence of suicide bomber then perhaps I would have entretained this theory... but with the existing leads... dont think so.
OK, I hadn't heard that it was for sure a suicide attack.
And I was only saying it might be the same owner. I don't know and I haven't seen any of our wonderful :rolleyes: media investigate and report on who owns the hotels.
But I am still not 100% sure it is a fundamentalist Muslim attack on western ways. It could be, or it could have been motivated by other means. If you can convince someone to die for their God, that person is almost by definition pretty darn gullible.
Gaucho100K
Jul 20, 09, 5:30 pm
Its probable that both hotels share ownership..... the big boys in the hotel business in Indonesia are all part of the same old boys clubs... and also all members of the IBRA club... ;)