Islamic State have claimed responsibility for today’s bombings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, which we reported on earlier today. This information has come from the Aamaq News Group, which is linked to IS.
A series of explosions happened outside a Starbucks in the middle of the capital, some of which are thought to be ‘suicide bombers’. However, other assailants are believed to have thrown grenades, after which, they holed up in the nearby Djakarta Cinema.
Indonesian police have expressed doubt in the link to IS, saying that they believed it to be a local group allied to IS. The Guardian has said that it was the group’s intention to imitate the Paris attacks in November 2015.
It is now thought that a cryptic warning had been given for the attacks. A police spokesperson, Anton Charliyan, said this: “The warning said there will be a concert in Indonesia and it will be international news.”
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called the explosions ‘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.”
A hashtag has already emerged on social media in a show of resilience against the attack, titled #KamiTidakTakut – “We are not afraid”.
This picture touched my heart. #KamiTidakTakut pic.twitter.com/QUVwN7JrPp
— Yara. (@siicknjhx) January 14, 2016
Yeahhh. You messed with the wrong country #KamiTidakTakut #JakartaBerani pic.twitter.com/9fgbtj6DPf
— Jacqueline Arabella (@danabarrettt) January 14, 2016
Bomb explosions and gunfire won’t shut us down. #KamiTidakTakut pic.twitter.com/5iWPe7Kuzu
— stika (@divinegreyson) January 14, 2016
we are indonesians. we are brave. we’ll fight back. we stand for each other. we are not afraid. #KamiTidakTakut
— nad (@stylisonsass) January 14, 2016
Muslim doesn’t do such a horrible thing like terrorism. So please stop using religion as an excuse to do that #KamiTidakTakut
— Ardanti Retnohandini (@ardantiy) January 14, 2016
The attack has left 7 people dead; 5 attackers (2 suicide bombers and 3 gunmen) and 2 civilians. Three of the attackers have been arrested at this time.
We will update this story as more information arises.
Source: The Guardian.
Photo: Oscar Siagian / Getty.
