Islamic State Claims Jakarta Terror Attack
Footage shows two suicide bombers blow themselves up near a Starbucks, as a police officer and a Canadian are killed.
Thursday 14 January 2016 04:38, UK
Islamic State has claimed it carried out a co-ordinated bomb and gun assault on the Indonesian capital Jakarta, which police described as a copycat Paris terror attack.
At least seven people were killed, a Canadian and an Indonesian as well as five attackers. Twenty other people were wounded.
Footage showed two suicide bombers blow themselves up outside the cafe, and a militant was also believed to have been captured on film in a gun battle with police.
There were several large explosions across the city during the three-hour siege - with reports suicide bombers targeted multiple locations, including a Starbucks cafe at a busy shopping centre, near the presidential palace.
Other blasts were reportedly heard in the Cikini, Silpi and Kuningan neighbourhoods, near the Pakistan and Turkish embassies.
A United Nations building close to the scene was placed in lockdown, and other high-rise buildings in the area were evacuated.
IS released a statement in which it said 15 people had been killed.
"A group of soldiers of the caliphate in Indonesia targeted a gathering from the crusader alliance that fights the Islamic State in Jakarta," it said.
It emerged IS had issued a cryptic warning in November last year, saying, "there will be a concert in Indonesia and it will be international news".
Police said the attackers aimed to "imitate the terror attacks in Paris" and said IS was "definitely" behind the attack.
An Indonesian militant called Bahrun聽Naim聽was identified as the man who organised the plot.
Bodies could be seen in the streets, as office workers watched the horror unfold.
UN employee Jeremy Douglas had just got out of his car when he tweeted: "A massive #bomb went off in front of our new #Indonesia office as @collie_brown & I exit car. Chaos & we're going into lock-down.
"Apparent #suicidebomber literally 100m from the office and my hotel. Now gunfire."
He described hearing six explosions and tweeted pictures of the chaos outside his office window.
Tri Seranto, a security guard at a bank, said he saw at least five attackers, three of them suicide bombers, who entered the cafe and blew themselves up, one by one. However, police said it was unclear if they detonated themselves, or hand grenades.
Security forces stormed the building, and gunfire could be heard for more than an hour after the explosions.
Mr Seranto said the two other attackers, who were carrying handguns, entered a nearby police post from where he heard gunfire.
Officers have arrested four people suspected of being involved in the assault, and said no assailants had escaped.
Starbucks said one customer was injured and treated at the scene, and confirmed all its employees were safe and that it was closing all its branches in the city until further notice.
"We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts that have taken place in Jakarta today; our hearts are with the people of Indonesia," the firm said in a statement.
Indonesian President Joko聽Widodo, who visited the scene, condemned the "acts of terror" and urged Indonesians to stay clam.
He said: "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."
Briton Glenn Ison, who is in the capital, told Sky News: "There have been lists of malls across Jakarta being passed around on social media as places to avoid. I'm sitting in a mall right now and there doesn't seem to be any panic, however, the security has been beefed up a little."
The UK Foreign Office warned Britons in Indonesia to "maintain vigilance" following Thursday's attacks.
Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has been a victim of several bombings in the past that have been claimed by Islamic militant groups.
The country has been on high alert since authorities said they foiled a plot by Islamic militants to attack government officials, foreigners and others.
Around 150,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed on New Year's Eve to protect churches, airports and other public places.
:: Some previous attacks in Indonesia
:: More than 200 people were killed - half of them foreign tourists - in the 2002 Bali bombings
:: The 2005 bombings in Bali claimed 20 lives
:: Eight people were killed when two American-managed hotels were bombed in 2009