Some bad news coming out of Jakarta with simultaneous bombings at two hotels leaving nine dead and at least forty-two wounded.
Minister: 9 dead in Jakarta hotel blasts (The Jakarta Post)
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Widodo AS says nine people have been killed and at least 42 injured in two powerful blasts that hit two luxury hotels in Mega Kuningan business area in downtown Jakarta. Widodo told reporters that six of the victims were killed at the Marriot hotel, two others at the Ritz-Carlton hotel and one died in hospital.Deadly Twin Bombings Hit Jakarta Hotels (VOA News)
The two blasts occurred within minutes of each other. Security Minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said the explosions were caused by "high explosives."Indonesia hotel bombings leave 9 dead (LA Times)
The bombs were planted near the restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and in the basement of the Marriott. The windows of the Ritz-Carlton restaurant were blown out, with debris and shattered glass littering the street.
Nine people were killed and about 50 were wounded in nearly simultaneous bombings at the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton hotels in central Jakarta today, Indonesian police said. Jakarta police spokesman Chrysnanda Dwilaksana said all the deaths occurred at the Marriott, which was badly damaged in 2003 by a car bombing that killed 12 people. There have not been any major bombings in Indonesia for several years, and this month's presidential election went smoothly, underscoring the progress made by the world's most populous Muslim nation since the chaos and violence that surrounded the downfall of ex-autocrat Suharto in the late 1990s. Witnesses told Indonesian Metro TV that the injured were seen being taken away in ambulances. "Some windows of the Ritz-Carlton building have been shattered, mostly on the lower section. I'm looking at it from my office," said Myra Junor, who works nearby.Deadly explosions hit Jakarta hotels
One explosion hit the Ritz-Carlton, ripping off its facade, and the other the Marriott Hotel. At least 48 people were injured.No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts. Newly re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has visited the scene of the explosions.
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta says security is extremely tight around the two hotels, with ambulances streaming in every few minutes [...] There were reports of a third explosion in northern Jakarta a few hours later but it was not immediately clear what the cause was. The Manchester United football team was due to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday and was booked to stay at the Ritz-Carlton. The blasts may raise doubts about the team's tour, PA news agency reported. The first two blasts, in Jakarta's central business district, occurred at about 0730 (0030 GMT). Police said another, unexploded, bomb had also been found at the JW Marriott.
