At Least 3 Killed After Blasts, Gunfight in Jakarta

Police officers near the site of a blast Thursday in Jakarta. Photo: Darren Whiteside / Reuters

Reuters

JAKARTA — Several explosions went off and gunfire broke out in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday and police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one the blasts.

Media said six bombs went of and a Reuters witness saw three dead people and a gunfight going on. One blast went off in a Starbucks cafe and security forces were later seen entering the building.

"The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him," said a Reuters photographer.

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According to the official Jakarta police Twitter account one explosion went off in front of a shopping centre called the Sarinah mall, on a main city avenue.

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Indonesia has been on edge over recent weeks about the danger of Islamist militants and counter-terrorism police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to Islamic State.

 

This is a developing story and likely to be updated with additional details as they are available.