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News Desk

The Jakarta Post

Publication Date : 13-03-2013

Indonesian police are investigating an explosion, which they say might have come from a low explosive bomb in Cipete, South Jakarta, that occurred late on Monday.

The incident took place in front of the home of Central Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Bachtiar Hasanudin, which police say has been vacant for the last two to three years.

The National Police’s bomb disposal team had been dispatched to comb the area.

Six police personnel from the forensic laboratory team were also at the crime scene to help determine the cause of the explosion.

The alleged bomb, which exploded at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, created a 7-centimetre-wide hole on the road and injured two people.

The victims, Agung Suhardi and his wife, suffered light injuries as they were passing the crime scene on their motorcycle at the time of the incident. They were affected by fragments from the explosion.

The South Jakarta Police are currently questioning seven witnesses related to the incident, of which only one of the testimonies had been concluded in the investigation dossier. “The process is still ongoing,” South Jakarta Police chief told reporters on Tuesday.

At the location of the explosion, Wahyu said that police had yet to determine whether the explosion was directed toward the Central Kalimantan police chief. “

According to Agung, a motorcycle fled the scene immediately after the explosion. “The bike had been parked in front of a nearby house.”

Agung’s testimony was echoed by another witness, Subhan, who said he saw a motorcyclist - wearing a black jacket and a full-face helmet - parked in front of the police chief’s residence.

Subhan said that when he approached the man, “he fled”. “I also did not see the license plate number as there was too much smoke,” he said, adding that the man was alone.