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Fatal blasts hit Jakarta hotels Fatal blasts hit Jakarta hotels
(20 minutes later)
At least nine people, including some foreigners, have been killed in two bomb blasts at luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, police say.At least nine people, including some foreigners, have been killed in two bomb blasts at luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, police say.
One explosion hit the Ritz-Carlton, ripping off its facade, and the other the Marriott Hotel. At least 48 people were injured.One explosion hit the Ritz-Carlton, ripping off its facade, and the other the Marriott Hotel. At least 48 people were injured.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts.No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Newly re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has visited the scene of the explosions.Newly re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has visited the scene of the explosions.
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta says security is extremely tight around the two hotels, with ambulances streaming in every few minutes.The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta says security is extremely tight around the two hotels, with ambulances streaming in every few minutes.
I heard two sounds like 'boom, boom' coming from the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton - then I saw people running out Eko SusantoSecurity guard In pictures: Jakarta hotel blastsI heard two sounds like 'boom, boom' coming from the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton - then I saw people running out Eko SusantoSecurity guard In pictures: Jakarta hotel blasts
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key confirmed that a New Zealand national was among the dead.
Reuters news agency named him as Tim Mackay, president director of PT Holcim Indonesia, quoting the company's marketing director Patrick Walser.
There were reports of a third explosion in northern Jakarta a few hours later but it was not immediately clear what the cause was.There were reports of a third explosion in northern Jakarta a few hours later but it was not immediately clear what the cause was.
The Manchester United football team was due to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday and was booked to stay at the Ritz-Carlton. The blasts may raise doubts about the team's tour, PA news agency reported. The Manchester United football team was due to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday and was booked to stay at the Ritz-Carlton.
The PA news agency reports that they have cancelled their match against an Indonesia Super League XI on 20 July in the city.
The first two blasts, in Jakarta's central business district, occurred at about 0730 (0030 GMT).The first two blasts, in Jakarta's central business district, occurred at about 0730 (0030 GMT).
Reuters news agency quoted police as saying another, unexploded, bomb had also been found at the JW Marriott. Police said another, unexploded, bomb had also been found at the JW Marriott.
"I heard two sounds like 'boom, boom' coming from the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton. Then I saw people running out," security guard Eko Susanto told AFP."I heard two sounds like 'boom, boom' coming from the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton. Then I saw people running out," security guard Eko Susanto told AFP.
Businessman Geoffrey Head, who was in the Ritz Carlton, told the BBC he did not hear the blast but that his colleagues had called him after it happened to tell him to leave the building.Businessman Geoffrey Head, who was in the Ritz Carlton, told the BBC he did not hear the blast but that his colleagues had called him after it happened to tell him to leave the building.
"I looked out of the window - I could see down to ground level and I saw there was a lot of broken glass. I thought it was time to actually get out.""I looked out of the window - I could see down to ground level and I saw there was a lot of broken glass. I thought it was time to actually get out."
Mr Head said there had been no warning to evacuate the building.Mr Head said there had been no warning to evacuate the building.
"The surreal thing was going down in the elevator and walking through the lobby and looking across to my left and noticing the cafe was completely blown out," he said."The surreal thing was going down in the elevator and walking through the lobby and looking across to my left and noticing the cafe was completely blown out," he said.
Myra Junor, who witnessed the blasts from a nearby building, told Reuters that windows on the lower floors of the Ritz-Carlton had shattered.Myra Junor, who witnessed the blasts from a nearby building, told Reuters that windows on the lower floors of the Ritz-Carlton had shattered.
Ambulances raced to the scene and there is a heavy police presence in the area, says our correspondent.
Finding the victimsFinding the victims
Police said a number of foreigners were among those who died.Police said a number of foreigners were among those who died.
INDONESIA ATTACKS December 2000 - Church bombings kill 19October 2002 - Bali attacks kill 202, many Australian December 2002 - Sulawesi McDonald's kills three August 2003 - Jakarta Marriott Hotel bomb kills 12 September 2004 - Bomb outside Australian embassy in Jakarta
The president director of PT Holcim Indonesia, Tim Mackay, was among them, the company's marketing director Patrick Walser said.
Security Minister Widodo Adi Sucipt said a New Zealander was among the injured.
A 50-year-old South Korean man, Cho In-sang, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.A 50-year-old South Korean man, Cho In-sang, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
INDONESIA ATTACKS December 2000 - Church bombings kill 19October 2002 - Bali attacks kill 202, many Australian December 2002 - Sulawesi McDonald's kills three August 2003 - Jakarta Marriott Hotel bomb kills 12 September 2004 - Bomb outside Australian embassy in Jakarta
"I don't remember exactly but suddenly the ceiling is falling down and the sound was big," he said."I don't remember exactly but suddenly the ceiling is falling down and the sound was big," he said.
Consular staff are trying to track their nationals, and Australia issued a warning against unnecessary travel to Indonesia.Consular staff are trying to track their nationals, and Australia issued a warning against unnecessary travel to Indonesia.
An Australian man told local radio in Australia that his son had been hurt at the Marriott and was being taken to hospital.An Australian man told local radio in Australia that his son had been hurt at the Marriott and was being taken to hospital.
The man, who identified himself only as Jim, said his son had telephoned him from Jakarta to say his leg was wounded and he had lost hearing in one ear in an explosion.The man, who identified himself only as Jim, said his son had telephoned him from Jakarta to say his leg was wounded and he had lost hearing in one ear in an explosion.
"He's on his way to hospital. He's OK," he said."He's on his way to hospital. He's OK," he said.
Anti-terror training
The attacks come just weeks after the peaceful presidential elections.The attacks come just weeks after the peaceful presidential elections.
The country of 240 million people has been praised in recent years for maintaining a pluralist democracy while finding and punishing radical Islamists responsible for a series of bombings five years ago.The country of 240 million people has been praised in recent years for maintaining a pluralist democracy while finding and punishing radical Islamists responsible for a series of bombings five years ago.
Attacks on two nightclubs in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people, most of them Australian.Attacks on two nightclubs in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people, most of them Australian.
The Marriott Hotel was the target of a bomb attack in August 2003 in which 13 people were killed.The Marriott Hotel was the target of a bomb attack in August 2003 in which 13 people were killed.
The Jemaah Islamiah militant group was blamed for both of those attacks.
Since then, a combination of new laws, anti-terror training, international cooperation and reintegration measures have kept Indonesia peaceful, analysts have said.Since then, a combination of new laws, anti-terror training, international cooperation and reintegration measures have kept Indonesia peaceful, analysts have said.
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