The death toll from the terrorist attack that shocked is at least seven dead Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where today a group of armed men – according to the media at least 14 – blew up six bombs in the center. Among the victims, five are presumed bombers and two civilians, an Indonesian and a Dutch, explained the Minister for Security Luhut Panjaitan. Four suspected bombers have been arrested.
The police made it known who the terrorists would be related to ISIS, who in recent weeks had written a coded threat message against the country. The Indonesian organization linked to the Islamic State and suspected of having organized today's attacks "followed the example of the Paris attacks," said a police spokesman, Anton Charliya. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attacks: Islamic State-linked Aamaaq news agency said ISIS fighters carried out the attacks, the BBC reported online.
The attack, which took place between noon and 15 pm local time near the presidency and the UN headquarters, was defined by Indonesian president Joko Widodo “a terrorist act”.
Also according to the police, among the presumed dead bombers there would also be two suicide bombers that got blown up. On the other hand, there would be no terrorists on the run, contrary to the rumors circulated in the local media. Another police spokesman, Muhammad Iqbal, added that five policemen, a civilian of foreign nationality and four Indonesian civilians were among the injured.
“The state and the people must not be afraid – added Widodo -, we will not succumb to such an atrocious attack. I ask the entire population to remain calm, the situation is under control ”, he said, addressing his condolences to the families of the victims”.
Witnesses said at least one terrorist attacked a Starbucks cafe in the city center, in an area where there are several embassies, and shot those present. One of the blasts hit a shopping centre, the Sarinah, located in the Jalan Thamrin district, near the presidential palace and the offices of the United Nations. The local media and social networks speak of a intense firefight occurred in the area.
The attacks in Jakarta were preceded yesterday by some messages from al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to Indonesians and Muslims in Southeast Asia, urged to strike the interests of the United States and its allies. The first message promises revenge on Saudi Arabia and its Western allies for the execution of 47 terrorists earlier this year. The second defines Southeast Asia, and particularly Indonesia, as ripe for jihad as other regions of the Islamic world.