Cirebon, W Java, (Antara)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has condemned the bomb blasts targeting the Thamrin Boulevard in Central Jakarta and has ordered the police to arrest the perpetrators.
"I have ordered the National Police chief and the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs minister to chase down and arrest the suspects, both those on the scene and other members of the networks," President Jokowi, who is on a working visit to Cirebon, West Java Province, informed the press after receiving the report of the bombings in Central Jakarta.
The head of state expressed his condolences over the casualties resulting from the blasts.
He affirmed that terror attacks would never be able to incite a sense of fear or defeat among Indonesians and has appealed to the public to remain calm.
New presidential spokesman Johan Budi informed the press at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta that the president would cut short his working visit to West Java and immediately return to Jakarta aboard a helicopter.
Jokowi will chair a meeting with the National Police chief, head of the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.
In the meantime, some witnesses claimed to have seen bomb explosions and a shootout between the police and attackers that began at around 10:40 a.m. local time in the business center area near Sarinah department store and a Starbucks cafe in Central Jakarta.
Three suicide bombers blew themselves up near a police post in the Jakarta Theatre Building at the M.H. Thamrin Boulevard, according to an eye witness.
The Thamrin area is now being cordoned off as police officers are still investigating the incident.
According to witnesses, around six explosions were heard during the bombing attacks.
The first and second explosions occurred in the Starbucks coffee shop at around 10:40 a.m. and 10:53 a.m. local time, Tri Feranto, a security officer of Bank Mandiri building located near the site of the explosions, stated.
The third explosion took place near the police post and hit the three suicide bombers and a police officer, according to Tri.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth explosions took place at 11 a.m., 11:03 a.m., and 11:04 a.m. local time.
Seven people including four perpetrators were killed in the bombing and shootout incidents.(*)
