Bomb Injures 11, One Seriously, at Jakarta Airport
A bomb exploded at Jakarta’s international airport early today, injuring 11 people, one seriously, police said.
Police Chief Gen. Da’i Bachtiar said no one had claimed responsibility for the attack behind a KFC restaurant in the domestic departure area at the capital’s Sukarno Hatta International Airport.
A second police official, Lt. Gen. Erwin Mapasseng, said the bomb appeared similar to a small pipe bomb that exploded outside the main U.N. building Thursday in downtown Jakarta. No one was injured in that blast.
“This was meant to terrorize people,” Mapasseng said. “If people are scared, then these people have achieved their goal. We’re asking people not to panic.”
Mapasseng said police found a bag near the airport blast site that may have been used to hide the bomb. Witnesses also said they noticed a bag sitting outside the restaurant minutes before the explosion.
A food stall worker in the airport who gave his name as Dede said the blast knocked out windows and tossed chairs across the terminal. Other witnesses said there was blood everywhere.
Police sealed off the area near the restaurant, but the terminal remained open and flights were departing, witnesses said.
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