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| Southeast Asia |
| Jakarta Marriott boomed |
| 2003-08-05 |
| Hot of the presses. JAKARTA (Reuters) - A huge blast that tore through the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday killed five people and seriously wounded five, Indonesian police said. More to follow, I’m sure. Followup: FoxNews says 10 people dead, over 100 wounded. Jemaah Islamiyah is suspected. More to come... |
| Posted by:Pete Stanley |
| #12 The US said today Indonesian police had recovered the vehicle number of a van used in the deadly bombing of a luxury hotel in Jakarta, and were now looking for those behind the attack. At the same time, the US embassy in Jakarta urgently renewed calls for Americans in Indonesia to adopt tighter personal security measures in light of ongoing terrorist threats in the country. The embassy said local authorities were tracing the ownership of a vehicle that exploded in the driveway of the five-star JW Marriott hotel, killing at least 13 people, including the driver, and wounding more than 100. In a brief report sent to the State Department, the embassy said it had received reports that as many as 17 people had been killed and more than 137 wounded. It said two US citizens had been injured in the blast. Most likely stolen van. If the terrorists have learned anything from the Bali and Kenyan bombings, it's don't use a van that can be traced back to you. Of course, some people never learn. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-5 1:39:19 PM |
| #11 The attack occurred in the most expensive part of Jakarta's central business district. This is near where many of Indonesia's governmental elites live. Where the Bali incident was treated as a distant event, this Jakarta attack may cause the resurrection of the Suharto-era death squads, where enemies of the regime simply disappeared, never to be found. This attack endangered the lives of the families of the security apparatus (i.e. the army, the police, etc.). We'll find out in the coming months whether their survival instincts are completely attenuated, which I seriously doubt. I suspect many high profile Islamists will disappear, supposedly into hiding, but probably into shallow graves. On the attack itself, from what I gather, cars were not allowed to park in the lobby area - it was a drive-by suicide attack. From here on, it looks like a lot of high profile buildings in Jakarta are either going to be off-limits to vehicular traffic or every car entering sensitive areas is going to be searched for explosives. I don't envy the security men their jobs. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-5 11:18:06 AM |
| #10 Also maybe now Jakarta will REALLY crack down and break up not just the JI rings but the Mullahs, too. Really hit the Islamonazi culture where it hurts: in the radical mosques. Solo should brace itself. Wasn't their prime minister's political party handing out copies of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" a few months ago? If so, I don't think a real crack down is likely. More likely they'll round up a few low-level thugs, the disposible mule types they've got on trial for the Bali bombing, and call it a done deal. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-8-5 10:28:56 AM |
| #9 OK: One American, One Dutchman dead. Aussie victim NOT dead only injured. Latest info says Indo Police spokesman got it wrong. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-8-5 9:38:16 AM |
| #8 13 dead 150 injured 2 Aussies wounded 10 Kiwis wounded (employees of dairy company Fontera) 4 Singaporeans wounded Hotel US-owned Aussie embassy staff immediately raced to the scene to try to rescue victims. Westerners urged to avoid Indonesia Abu Bakar Bashir and Jemaah Islamiah suspected though not confirmed. 1800 00 22 14 - info hotline for Aussies concerned about relatives/friends in Jakarta. 7,000 Aussies in Jakarta at this time. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-8-5 9:28:00 AM |
| #7 They tried for another Bali. Marriot is right near the Western diplomat district so it's hit the ex-pat community hard psychologically. They've got one Aussie confirmed dead so far. Site looks devastated: it was a big bomb. I take heart in one small sense: they'd be doing it IN Sydney, IN New York, IN London if they could. But they can't. So the next best thing is the Western enclave in a third world country. It's still devastating but at least it means all those defensive measures are having some effect of keeping the vermin out of our own territory. Also maybe now Jakarta will REALLY crack down and break up not just the JI rings but the Mullahs, too. Really hit the Islamonazi culture where it hurts: in the radical mosques. Solo should brace itself. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-8-5 9:21:29 AM |
| #6 I am sorry for all those who were murdered. I would point out that this is a soft target, in a muslim country. And at that, they only killed 13 this time. AQ is either still holding on for something yet to come, or it is not what it was. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-5 9:17:58 AM |
| #5 Mebbe they'll get serious now? Abu Bombblast should be shot now. Trial's over |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-5 8:58:45 AM |
| #4 A bomb explosion has killed at least 13 people and injured many others at the luxury Marriott Hotel in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The blast damaged five floors of the American-run hotel, shattering glass and damaging cars parked outside. Indonesian Defence Minister Matori Abdul Jalil said it was caused by a bomb and was "clearly an act of terrorism". The Indonesian police chief, General Dai Bachtiar, later confirmed that the blast was caused by a bomb believed to have been in a car parked outside the hotel. He declined to speculate whether the blast was due to a suicide bombing. "There were human body parts around the vehicle but it cannot be ascertained as to whether they belonged to a perpetrator or to victims," he told reporters. Premature Dire Revenge(tm) for the upcoming Bali guilty verdict. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-5 8:52:14 AM |
| #3 Just shows to go ya that tourism in Indonesia is forever dead. Luckily, Bali is a safe destination... |
| Posted by: TJ 2003-8-5 8:41:14 AM |
| #2 Death toll up to 11. Smells alot like the Bali bombing. |
| Posted by: Douglas De Bono 2003-8-5 8:16:32 AM |
| #1 Now six dead. |
| Posted by: Pete Stanley 2003-8-5 3:52:01 AM |