Indonesian Capital Rocked by Explosions

A series of explosions has rocked the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, with gun battles on the streets. Up to seven blasts and multiple gunfights hit the Indonesian capital Jakarta, today.

The blasts were centered on Thamrin Street, a major shopping and business district close to foreign embassies and the United Nations’ offices.

Details remain unclear, but at least one of the blasts hit a Starbucks cafe and a police security post.

Police said that suicide bombings resulted in the death of five attackers and two civilians, and twenty people were injured, including five police officers.

Police spokesman, Anton Charliyan, told journalists: “We have previously received a threat from Islamic State that Indonesia will be the spotlight”.

Moreover, ISIS said it carried out the attacks as an ISIS-linked news agency attributed to the terror group.

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, described the attacks as an “act of terror”. “We all are grieving for the fallen victims of this incident, but we also condemn the act that has disturbed the security and peace and spread terror among our people,” he said.

He also said in a statement on television: “We shouldn’t be afraid; we shouldn’t be defeated by this act of terror.”