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Australian embassy body count now up to 6
UP to six people have been killed and many more are wounded after in an apparent terrorist attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta today. Early indications are a bomb was detonated outside the compound, ripping the gates off and killing bystanders. Witnesses reported wounded being stretchered from the compound and at least three lifeless bodies were seen on the street. All Australian staff at the embassy are accounted for, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is flying to Jakarta tonight and will be joined by team of nine bomb experts and a senior medical officer. Prime Minister John Howard said this afternoon that up to six people were believed dead and the evidence indicated it the explosion was caused by a car bomb. Four cars and the high metal fence surrounding the Australian embassy were damaged. The windows of surrounding buildings were smashed. A severed human leg was lying on the street by the embassy. The blast prompted the immediate evacuation of the embassy and caused a sharp drop on the Jakarta stock market. El Shinta radio station quoted a witness saying a police truck and a taxi in front of the embassy had been blown apart and the high steel fence surrounding the building in the Kuningan business and residential district was damaged. Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-09-09 |
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