National

Explosions and gunfire in Jakarta: What we know now

The Associated Press contributed to this report


Multiple explosions rocked Jakarta midmorning Thursday in what was suspected to be a coordinated terrorist attack on Indonesia's capital city.
The first explosion went off in front of the popular Sarinah shopping mall, in an area that also has many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. No group immediately took credit for the attack.

The country has been on high alert since authorities said they foiled a plot by Islamic militants to attack government officials, foreigners and others. About 150,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed on New Year's Eve to guard churches, airports and other public places.

President Joko Widodo denounced the attacks in a statement reported by The Jakarta Globe.

"We all grieve at the loss of life from this incident," he said . "I have ordered the police chief and the chief security minister to chase down and capture (the perpetrators), those who were (involved) in this incident and those in their networks ... As a nation, a people and a society, we cannot be defeated or made afraid by acts of terror such as this."

At least seven killed; more casualties feared

A Jakarta police spokesman said at least seven people, including four attackers, died in attacks on the city's downtown area.

Multiple bomb blasts shook Jakarta

According to local media reports, at least six explosions took place in Jakarta Thursday. The first three appeared to be part of a coordinated attack at a central Jakarta Starbucks. The other three, in Cikni, Silpi and Kuningan neighborhoods, took place later near the Turkish and Pakistani embassies, Indonesia's TV One reported.

Attacks included at least three suicide bombers

Witnesses told The Associated Press at least three suicide bombers exploded themselves in a Starbucks cafe in downtown Jakarta. At least two other attackers, armed with handguns, then appeared to open fire at a nearby police post. At least one policeman died in the attack while three other people suffered serious injuries, The Associated Press reported.

The shooters were not immediately apprehended.

United Nations office in Indonesia placed on lockdown

Jeremy Douglas, a regional representative for the U.N., shared updates on Twitter after a bomb exploded in front of the U.N.'s new Indonesia office.

He described chaos as the sound of gunfire echoed through the air and said the U.N. has since gone into lockdown.

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