JAKARTA: An attack on Jakarta is over and no more perpertators are at large, police said Thursday, after gunfire and explosions left seven dead in the Indonesian capital.
At the moment the situation is under control, Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said.
Indonesian police claimed to have arrested four suspected militants believed to have been involved in the gun and bomb assault in the centre of the capital, which killed at least six.
Indonesian network TVOne said at least three explosions occurred in the Cikni, Silpi and Kuningan neighbourhoods, near the Pakistani and Turkish embassies.
According to the official Jakarta police Twitter account, one explosion went off in front of a shopping centre called the Sarinah mall, on a main city avenue.
A witness claimed to have seen three suicide bombers explode themselves in a Starbucks cafe in the downtown Jakarta area, after which he said two gunmen attacked a police post nearby.
The area is home to many luxury hotels, and offices and embassies, including the French.
A total of at least six blasts has been counted.
National police spokesman Anton Charliyan said the explosion near a police post in the area was not a suicide attack.
“This is not a suicide bomb, based on witness account at the police post it was something that was thrown, whether it was a grenade or a bomb we still haven’t been able to confirm. Nobody has been arrested,” Charliyan said.
He said at least one attacker ? maybe two ? fled afterwards, using a motorbike.
Police had earlier said the explosions were caused by bombs.
The first explosion appeared to have triggered a gun-battle between the attackers and anti-terror police squads, and gunfire could be heard more than one hour later
Jakarta police spokesman Col Muhammad Iqbal said seven people including four attackers have been killed in the attacks. He said police have recovered the bodies of the attackers, but it is not clear if more remain at large.
However, national police spokesman Anton Charliyan told AFP: “Four people died, one police officer and three civilians.”
Helicopters were circling the area, which had been cordoned off.
Officers at the scene of the explosions in the Sarinah mall area told AFP reporters to “get back” because there “is a sniper” on the roof of a building.
“There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him,” the Reuters photographer said.
The national police spokesman warned people to stay away, saying police fear there could be more bombs.
“For now the gunfire has stopped but they are still on the run, we are afraid there will be more gunshots,” Anton Charliyan said.
Heavily armed police evacuated a badly injured man who was lying on the road bleeding heavily.
Police slowly approached the man and stretchered him into a vehicle, about 25 metres from the severely damaged Starbucks cafe, as shots rang out.
Another body, also apparently male, dressed all in black was pictured lying on his back in the centre of the street while another lay nearby.
‘Suicide bombers in Starbucks’
Tri Seranto, a bank security guard, told The Associated Press he saw at least five attackers, including three suicide bombers who exploded themselves in the Starbucks.
He said he was out on the street when he saw the three men entering Starbucks and saw them blowing themselves up one by one.
He said the other two attackers, carrying handguns, entered a police post from where he heard gunfire. He said he later saw one policeman dead and three seriously wounded.
He said he was not injured in the explosions as he was a little distance away, but close enough to witness the attack at 10.30 am.
He said the two gunmen ran away with police chasing them.
“The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road,” a Reuters photographer said.
Security forces were later seen entering the building housing Starbucks.
Starbucks says one customer sustained injuries from an explosion and was treated on the scene while all employees are confirmed to be safe.
The company says in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts that have taken place in Jakarta today; our hearts are with the people of Indonesia.”
Starbucks says all stores in Jakarta will remain closed, out of an abundance of caution, until further notice.
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