Jakarta. At approximately 2115 hrs local time a suicide bomber detonated two bombs in East Jakarta in the motorbike parking area at the busy bus terminal in Kampung Melayu. The death toll of five includes 2 bombers and 3 police officers. Officers Ridho Setiawan, Taufan Tsunami and Imam Gilang Adinata were named as the victims in the attack. 11 bystanders were injured in the blast.
Initially one of the bomber was identified as Wirayawan Indra Wijaya, 36 from Bekasi. Information circulating on social media was later cleared by police. W.I. Wijaya dropped his wallet while helping injured at the scene. Police named the bomber as Ichwan Nurul Salam, was born in Bandung on Dec. 28, 1985. The second bomber was named as Ahmad Sukri, residing in Bandung.
Subsequent reports suggests two bombers detonated pressure cooker bombs. Media reported the police found shopping receipts showing the cookers were purchased two days before the attacks. Police stated fragments at the sites are consistent with so called ‘panci’ bombs.
Early reports state, “The bombs were low explosives. The bombs contained aluminium scraps,” National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said, as quoted by Kompas TV on Thursday.
The attack against police post is tactic promoted by Al Qaeda manuals for some time and follows the bombings in Manchester, UK and the attack by the Islamic State “Maute” group in Marawi city, the Philippines yesterday (23/5).
According to the Jakarta Post the Police is now investigating the links to previous pressure cooker bombs and recent plots in Bandung and links to the links with the Cicendo terror group and Abu Salam, the perpetrator of pressure cooker bomb attack in Bandung who was gunned down by police.
The IS-affiliated Jamaah Anshar Daulah (JAD) was believed to be behind the Bandung attack. Police added that the attackers probably had connections with Jamaah Anshar Daulah (JAD).
This is the eleventh terrorism incident since January this year with authorities in Southeast Asia racing to arrest terror suspects and prevent plots.
The Jakarta Globe wrote, “We have actually been prepared, but we didn’t know where exactly the attack will take place and when,” National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto told reporters.
Experts expressed the view the bombing is a growing trend of terror actions in the region. Police suggested the attack in Jakarta is part of the global Islamic State campaign.
The president was quoted as, “This has gone too far. Ojek [motorcycle taxi] and angkot [public minivan] drivers have fallen victim and so have police officers,” Jokowi told reporters on Thursday at his private residence in Surakarta, Central Java, reported by the Jakarta Post.
Indonesian and Russian officials signed a bilateral agreement to cooperate on counterterrorism, exchange intelligence information, combating drug trafficking and cyber-security issues, according to a statement issued by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
