Live: ISIS Officially Claims Responsibility for Jakarta Attacks
Malaysia’s police chief says police have raised security alert to the highest level following Jakarta attack.
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- Multiple explosions rock the capital city of Indonesia; 7 reported killed.
- Five attackers have been killed, including one foreigner, reports Reuters.
- No indications that Islamic State militants are behind the attack, says intelligence chief.
- President calls Jakarta blasts an ‘act of terror’.
- Armed forces at the scene to handle the situation.
- #kamitidaktakut (We are not afraid) trending in Indonesia.
Islamic State officially claimed responsibility for the gun and bomb assault in the centre of Jakarta earlier in the day that killed seven people, five of whom were attackers.
Islamic State’s statement said there were 15 people killed but the official tally according to the Indonesian government is seven. A news agency affiliated to Islamic State had earlier reported the group’s responsibility.
An explosion heard in central Jakarta near the area of a militant attack earlier on Thursday was believed to be a tyre bursting and not another bomb, police said on Thursday.
Fresh explosions were heard in the city of Jakarta, Indonesia near the place where seven people died – five bombers and two civilians – few hours ago. The suicide bombers opened fire in several places before blowing themselves up.
Jakarta Police chief has said that the Islamic State or ISIS is behind the terror attack on the city.
According to a report by Reuters, seven people have been killed in the attack – five of which were the attackers themselves.
The Indonesian police have named a militant called Bahrun Naim, believed to be in Syrian city of Raqqa, to be responsible for the attack.
Malaysia’s national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar says police have raised security alert to the highest level following the deadly attack in Jakarta.
He says security has been increased at public places such as shopping malls and tourists spots, “while extra precautionary actions will be implemented in border areas to prevent possible infiltration by terrorist elements.”
Attack in Jakarta Ends, Says Indonesian Security Chief
Indonesia security chief has confirmed that ‘everything under control now’, Reuters reported. He added that five militants have been killed in Jakarta, including one foreigner.
The Indonesian police says the terrorists imitated ‘terror actions’ in Paris.
ABC News reporter Adam Harvey reported fresh shooting near the site of the previous explosions in Jakarta. Fifteen minutes later Adam tweeted again claiming that the police was on a clearing mission and they have now cleared the building of all attackers.
4 Attackers Among 7 Killed in Jakarta Blasts
Al Jazeera has reported that the Indonesian police suspects two attackers are still on the run. Seven people have been killed so far, including four attackers and one policeman.
‘We Are Not Afraid’: Indonesians Respond to Terrorists
Within hours of the Jakarta attack, citizens started tweeting with the hashtag #kamitidaktakut, meaning ‘We are not afraid’.
4 Attackers Killed in Jakarta Attack; Area Secure: Police
Four suspected attackers have been killed, police told Reuters. The area is now secure, the police added.
Indonesian President Calls Jakarta Blasts an ‘Act of Terror’
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called the blasts an “act of terror”.
There were no indications that Islamic State militants were behind a gun and bomb attack in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Thursday, the head of the national intelligence agency told Reuters.
“This is definitely terrorism but there are no indications yet that it’s ISIS related,” said Sutiyoso.
Armed Security Forces Have Arrived on the Scene
Counter-terrorism personnel have been deployed to the incident area.
Explosion Heard Near Site of Jakarta Attacks – Witness
Another explosion was heard near a central Jakarta building attacked by militants on Thursday, a Reuters reporter said.
Others have reported that more security forces are arriving on the scene.
Explosions and Gunfire Rock Jakarta, At Least Six Dead
Reuters reports that six people, including three police officers, have been killed in the attack.
Police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one of the blasts and up to 14 militant gunmen were involved in the attack, Metro TV reported.
Police snipers were deployed among hundreds of other security officers.
A UN building near the scene was in lock-down with no one allowed in or out, a witness said. Some other high-rise buildings in the area have been evacuated.
According to the official Jakarta police Twitter account, one explosion went off in front of a shopping centre called the Sarinah mall, on the main city avenue. Media said a police post outside the mall was blown up.
Media said six bombs went off and a Reuters witness saw three dead people and a gunfight going on.
Jakarta police spokesman reportedly said they had received an ISIS warning in December that there would be a “concert in Jakarta.”
Several explosions went off and gunfire broke out in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday and police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one the blasts.
One blast was in a Starbucks cafe and security forces were later seen entering the building.
Indonesia has been on edge in recent weeks over the threat posed by Islamist militants and counter-terrorism police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to Islamic State.