Deadly car bomb rocks Jakarta
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JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- A powerful car bomb has hit central Jakarta near the Australian Embassy, killing at least six people and wounding nearly 100.
The explosion -- which CNN Correspondent Maria Ressa said was "far larger" than a blast which killed 12 in the JW Marriot Hotel in the same district last year -- went off four meters (12 feet) away from the embassy's gate, leaving a crater three meters deep.
Most of the deaths occurred just outside the 6-meter (20-foot) high steel gate, which was mangled in Thursday morning's blast.
The explosion shattered nearly all the windows in seven surrounding high-rise buildings while offices several blocks away also suffered damage.
Witnesses said they saw a car drive past slowly and then explode. The blast was so strong it threw one body towards the center of a four-lane highway nearby, and body parts were strewn around the streets. (Full story)
Hundreds of police tried to manage a chaotic scene as ambulances, fire trucks, wounded people and bystanders crowded amid the debris of burnt out cars and shattered windows.
Witnesses reported hearing the blast as far as six miles (10 kilometers) away, in the latest of a spate of attacks that has hit the world's fourth most populous nation.
Security officials told The Associated Press an Indonesian guard manning a post outside the gate was among those who died in the explosion, which struck at 10:15 a.m. (0315 GMT).
"The ground shook so hard I fell down. A huge column of white smoke rose up," said Joko Triyanto, a security guard, his arms bleeding from shrapnel wounds.
Three men wearing what appeared to be guard uniforms lay on the ground with bloodied faces, but seemed to be alive, Ressa reported.
The fortress-like Australian Embassy building is on Rasuna Said Road, one of central Jakarta's busiest roads, which is lined with office towers, embassies and hotels.
Video of the blast site showed rescue workers carrying out the injured on stretchers to a nearby hospital as helicopters circled overhead.
Police have cordoned off the area and sent in a bomb squad to search for more explosive devices.
A series of smaller blasts followed the major explosion and police set up checkpoints to keep people away from the area in case of further explosions.
Warnings issued
The Australian embassy has been evacuated, with Prime Minister John Howard saying all of the embassy's Australian staff have been accounted for, although some sustained minor injuries.
Several countries including the United States and Australia had warned their citizens about possible attacks by militants in recent weeks.
Australia is a close ally of the United States in its war on terror and it has never suffered a major terror attack on home soil.
But 88 Australians were among 202 killed in October 2002 in nightclub bombings on the resort island of Bali.
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a militant group with ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network that is trying to set up a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia, has been linked to the Bali blast as well as the JW Marriot attack last year.
No one has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, but Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who plans to travel to Jakarta Thursday, said initial suspicions fall on JI. (Full story)
The blast was "clearly a terrorist attack" aimed at Australia, local media reported Downer as saying.
Last Friday, Australia warned that "particular caution should be exercised in Jakarta, including the central business and embassy districts," and said that security at its embassy in the capital remained at a high level.
Australians have been warned to defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia.
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who was in neighboring Brunei Thursday to attend a royal wedding, cut short her stay and was returning to Jakarta, officials said.
Jakarta shares fell more than three percent on Thursday morning. (Full story) -
sad day ..... terrorism must be stop at all cost ..act of cowardice
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Russia has already declared they will strike terrorist base worldwide.
The Indonesian goverment may not dare to act against Bashir, but the Russians will make sure he die a slow death.
To Bashir and your followers, watch your back, you are about to enter your perverted paradize very soon. -
this reminds me somewhere that those killed in Jihad will go to heaven & is allowed to marry 72 virgins. nonsenseOriginally posted by stealthguy:Russia has already declared they will strike terrorist base worldwide.
The Indonesian goverment may not dare to act against Bashir, but the Russians will make sure he die a slow death.
To Bashir and your followers, watch your back, you are about to enter your perverted paradize very soon.
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With the picture of 72 virgins in mind..who wouldn't wanna die?
That seems to paint a very bad picture of heaven, in heaven it's not supposed
to HAVE SEX or any kinky stuff -
What are this people thinking, they kill people so they can be rewarded with sex in heaven!!!! -
The Russians will probably be operating more in their surrounding CIS theatre.Originally posted by stealthguy:Russia has already declared they will strike terrorist base worldwide.
The Indonesian goverment may not dare to act against Bashir, but the Russians will make sure he die a slow death.
To Bashir and your followers, watch your back, you are about to enter your perverted paradize very soon.
Australia will probably be the main force killing off those residue scums around our region.
And with defence pact that SG has our four neighbours, the question now would be if SG will be required to play a more involved role in the impending radicals extermination programme to be begun soon. -
Question is will heaven run out of virgins when Russia, Australia and the rest of the world starts taking out the terrorists?
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virgin what?
goats? camels?
was it stated that the virgins were human?
or do they get it from Virgins R' Us?
sheesh...
anyway, trust them to kill themselves because they are horny and can't get laid..Originally posted by SlowPoke:Question is will heaven run out of virgins when Russia, Australia and the rest of the world starts taking out the terrorists? -
The 72 Virgins in terrorist heaven are female.
However, if the terrorist don't appreciate women, then he can get 72 young boys. -
I'd like 72 young boys or camels. God is great, I'm going to find an Australian school to take hostage.
Although I'm a terrorist, I can't seem to be able to kill my intended targets, (Australians) so I'll just kill 9 of my fellow countrymen for no apparent reason. W00t w00t
God is great, I'll surely get my reward in heaven
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Guys, i understand that you want to highlight their stupidity but please do not make ur statements sound religious.
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Why can't we sound religious when it is a religious conflict-the good versus the demonic ? -
coz it isn't...
it's about political power disguised as a "jihad "... and it has hoodwinked so many semi-sentient morons into dying for no reason other than hatred, perpetrated by the corrupt asswipes like Arafat, Osama and their like..
Arafat wants Israel destroyed so he can rule over Palestine...
Osama wants to lead the Arab world..
Saddam had delusions of being some kinda all powerful warrior-king...
they just used religion as a rallying cry.. and nothing, and i mean NOTHING unites people as much as an enemy and a "religious reason " to destroy that enemyOriginally posted by Dr Who:Why can't we sound religious when it is a religious conflict-the good versus the demonic ? -
I'LL DO ANYTHING... TO YOU... FOR MY CAUSE
Program on BBC yesterday, interesting in that a self-confessed sucide bomber (being caught before carrying out the act) was interviewed.
Mostly done out of stoopidity. was told he'd get USD5,000, his sins would be forgiven, that his family and friends will follow him to heaven etc.
Best part of a sucide bomber zealot is that they never complain if they never 'get there' or that there was only 71 virgins pigs instead of 72 (camel, boys or whatever takes yours fancy). Nothing religious here except for nationalism, greed, fear and sheer stupidity.
Imagine a dedicated man, who fasts, shaves his head, reads all the tracts, prays everyday, keeps his body fit and eat only what is 'prescribed', willing to die for his cause, or failing which cause people around grief and pain.
He could be a Neo-Nazi, a jewish zealot, a IRA bomber, or even a anti-P.A.P. supporter. All we need is a "sexy-cause", even the anti-fur lobby got models to 'rather be naked than wear fur'.