In Reply to: explosions posted by gadisdesa on Friday, 17. July 2009 at 10:41 Bali Time:
JAKARTA BOMBINGS: LATEST PHOTOS HERE
Bombs have exploded at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, killing at least six foreigners and injuring at least 18, police say.
Dr Cahyonod at the Jakarta Hospital said six people were killed in explosions at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels this morning.
Police spokesman Colonel Chrinanda Dwilaksana also put the death toll at six.
An Australian man was reported injured in the leg and a New Zealander has also been reported injured in the blasts.
The blasts blew out windows and scattered debris and glass across the street.
One hospital emergency room said it was already treating 15 people.
A witness reported seeing bodies inside the Marriot.
Debris and shattered glass littered the street outside the neighbouring hotels in an upscale Jakarta neighborhood and ambulances raced to the scene.
Reporter Justin Hale told Radio 3AW Indonesian police had confirmed they were treating the synchronised bombings as a terrorist attack.
He said four people had been confirmed dead and so far about a dozen people injured.
A man jogging by the hotels said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.
Alex Asmasubrata said he saw four bodies inside the Marriott. An Associated Press reporter saw three injured taken away from the Ritz.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said staff were urgently trying to establish if any Australians had been injured or killed in the explosions at the luxury hotels.
He said anyone with concerns about family or friends overseas should try to contact them directly and if unable call the department on 1300 555 135 or 02 6261 3305.
The blast comes after a warning from security experts this week that Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiah, which has been dormant following a crackdown resulting in the arrest and execution of some members, could be set to strike again.
Terrorists could use the anniversary of the execution of three Bali bombing perpetrators on November 9 as a "sacred date'' to attract new support and fresh recruits, a study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said.
The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died. Jemaah Islamiah was blamed in that blast.
An Associated Press reporter saw three injured taken away from the Ritz-Carlton.
A caller to Radio 3AW, Jim, said his son had been injured in the blast at the Marriott.
He said his son was on his way to hospital and had phoned him from an ambulance.
"He was in the building and all of a sudden there was an enormous explosion,'' the caller said.
"He was bleeding from the left leg though from what I can gather the injury's not serious and (he) lost his hearing in one ear but he thinks he will recover from that.''
Jim said his son was unaware of how many people had been injured in the explosion.
Reporter Justin Hale said local media in Indonesia was reporting a large explosion inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
He said it was not yet clear if the reported bombings were a terrorist attack.
"If we're hearing a report of an explosion at the Ritz-Carlton and if we've now got a report of an explosion at the Marriott Hotel it's sounding more and more like an Al-Qaeda-style bombing, which we've had before,'' he said.
"That's their calling card is those synchronised attacks, simultaneous explosions.''
More to come
AP, Ari Sharp