Jakarta Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels Rocked by Explosions

by Tina Kells | July 16, 2009 at 05:59 pm

2700 views | 56 Recommendations | 17 comments

There are multiple reports that at least two busy hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Jakarta Marriott and the Jakarta Ritz-Carlton, have been rocked by explosions, killing at least 9 people according to Indonesia's Security Minister. Initial reports had the death toll between 4 and 8.

Both the Jakarta Marriott and Jakarta Ritz-Carlton are popular destinations for Western travelers. There is some speculation that a terrorist attack by Jemaah Islamiyah, a group with Al-Qaeda ties, may be to blame for the explosions that occurred 5 minutes apart on a Friday morning.

Security minister: 9 killed, 50 wounded in hotel blasts in downtown #Jakarta. More: http://apnews.com

Audio interview from an ABC reporter in Jakarta with two eyewitnesses

abcnews: DFAT says anyone with concern for family and friends in #jakarta should call 1300 555 135.

sylvdoanx: RT @budip: RT @thejakartaglobe: Toll rises to 8 in Jakarta hotel blasts http://bit.ly/11cW5w (expand) via @loosewire #indonesia #jakarta

Photos

Indonesia: Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels Rocked by Explosions

see larger image

uploaded by Pythiian1

Andre Siregar, Twitter user @dregar has posted a series of tweets and lots of eyewitness photos on breakingtweets.

Twitter user reports from scene of Jakarta explosions

TheGrottoTweets: AP now saying two "bombings" 5 mins apart, one at the JW Marriott & one at the Ritz-Carlton in Jakarta, Indonesia. #jakarta #indonesia

More injuries and fatalities are expected as emergency crews work to the scene of the bombings. The area around the hotels is being evacuated. Bombs at both hotels went off in the early morning hours of July 17, 2009. In 2003 the Jakarta Marriott Hotel was struck by a terrorist bomb that killed 12 and injured 150.

South Jakarta police Colonel Firman Bundi says the bodies have been taken to a hospital.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has told SBS there is no confirmation that any Australians were staying at the hotels, but the Australian emabassy in Jakarta is urgently checking.The facade of the Ritz-Carlton hotel was blown off in one of the blasts this morning.

Another explosion hit the neighbouring Marriott hotel.

A witness reported seeing bodies inside the Marriot.

Debris and shattered glass littered the street outside the neighbouring hotels in an upscale Jakarta neighbourhood and ambulances raced to the scene.A man jogging by the hotels said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.

Alex Asmasubrata said he saw four bodies inside the Marriott. An Associated Press reporter saw three injured taken away from the Ritz.

Quote

We can confirm that there have been explosions in the vicinity of the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia. We are closely monitoring the situation and are working closely with the authorities to assure that our guests and associates are moved to safety. Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims and their families.

Catherine Leitner, spokeswoman for Marriott International

Reports of the incident are scattered but it is clear that a series of major explosions have occurred in Jakarta's tourist area. Unconfirmed reports state that most of the bodies seen by eyewitnesses were foreigners. Twitter is full of news about the Jakarta explosions, including several tweets of TwitPics. To follow the Jakarta bombings/explosions use the hashtag #Jakarta.

This is a breaking story, updates to follow.

Police say bombs have exploded at two luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

The facade of the Ritz-Carlton hotel was blown off in one blast on Friday morning while another explosion hit the Marriott hotel.

Al Jazeera's Step Vaessen, reporting from Indonesia, said surrounding areas were being evacuated and ambulances could be heard racing to the affected areas.

TwitPic Tweets of the Jakarta Explosions (click twitpic land mypic inks in Tweets to see the photos)

@sylvestor

RT: @uncyherb Twitpic from outside the Ritz Carlton in Jakarta: http://twitpic.com/alkfa (not my pic) - #Jakarta #bombing

@adriankhall

RT @Tarale: A picture from the #Jakarta explosion. http://twitpic.com/alkfa and another http://twitpic.com/alkfm

@binshaq

RT @yonan32 and another pic http://mypict.me/show.php?id=aS9i (via @jessicasetiawan) #ritzcarlton #jakarta

@DocConnor

RT Andre Siregar: http://twitpic.com/alnio #jakarta

@janeross

RT @budip Another picture of explosion http://bit.ly/IzSKJ (expand) #indonesia #jakarta

@redevilica

http://twitpic.com/alkfa --> pic of Ritz Carlton explosion (Via @babyexpat) #jakarta #indonesia #jktexplosions

@gandrasta

Victim from #JWmarriot #jakarta bombing http://mypict.me/aToA

There is much speculation on Twitter about who may have bombed the hotels, and if the explosions really were even bombings.

semuabangsa: BBC news TV finally states that "don't know what caused the explosions" #jwmarriot #jakarta #ritzcarltonexplosions

jessydb: "The group that almost certainly carried this out is Jemaah Islamiyah," CNN's terror analyst Peter Bergen. #jakarta#news (via @klustout)

Links on TwitPic to Jakarta Hotel Bomb Photos (Click on photo to see full size TwitPic):

Ritz Carlton Explosion

Smoke from the Ritz Carlton

Marriott Hotel shortly after the first blast taken from our Ritz hotel room 11th floor

View From Far - Ritz Carlton Bombing Attack This Morning in Jakarta

An injured person at the scene of the Jakarta explosions

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Tina Kells

flagged this story as Breaking

at 18:15 on July 16th, 2009

Tina Kells, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Pythiian1

at 18:54 on July 16th, 2009

Apparently, the coordinated attacks are allegedly the works of Jemaah Islamiyah, an Al Qaeda linked group. According to AP and CNN, six are confirmed dead.

Indonesia is one the nations with the largest Muslim population in the world.

The bombings come a day after an analyst warned that Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, dormant following an effective police crackdown resulting in the arrest and execution of some members, was on the rise again and set to strike.

The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died. Jemaah Islamiah was blamed for that blast.

158

at 18:48 on July 16th, 2009

Good reports.

albertacowpoke

at 18:50 on July 16th, 2009

Two luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital have been struck by explosions, killing at least six people and injuring more than a dozen others.

South Jakarta police spokesperson Col. Firman Bundi said four foreigners died in the apparent attack. Their bodies have been taken to hospital.

A top health official said another two people were seriously injured, including a New Zealander, while a hospital emergency room reported at least a dozen people were being treated.

albertacowpoke

at 18:54 on July 16th, 2009

At least six people have been killed and 18 injured in explosions at two luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, according to police and hospital officials.

Police spokesman Colonel Chrinanda Dwilaksana and Dr Cahyonod at the Jakarta hospital said six people had died in Friday morning's blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels.

Al Jazeera's Step Vaessen, reporting from outside the Ritz-Carlton, said earlier scenes of panic had calmed down somewhat but ambulances were still rushing to the area and injured Indonesians and foreigners were still being taken to hospital.

Pythiian1

at 19:16 on July 16th, 2009

According an eyewitness, Greg Woolstencroft, who has seen the Ritz-Carlton explosion talks with Anderson Cooper on CNN. He lives across the street from the hotel. He said that the hotel is well fortified with barriers and armed guards in the front, which means that the bombers would have to go into the hotel from the back. The bombs exploded from the inside.

albertacowpoke

at 19:19 on July 16th, 2009

Here are some facts on Indonesia courtesy of Wikepedia

Tina Kells

at 19:21 on July 16th, 2009

Thanks to everyone for helping keep on top of this story!

Pythiian1

at 19:31 on July 16th, 2009

According to a Jakarta's online news site, Kompas.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel was supposed to accommodate footballers of the Manchester United (MU) of Britain, who are expected to arrive in Jakarta on Saturday (July 18). A 90-member team of MU, consisting of officials and players, are scheduled to arrive at Halim Perdanakusuma airport by a chartered plane.

Pythiian1

at 19:32 on July 16th, 2009

According to AP report: There are at least 50 wounded and the fatalities have reached 9.

albertacowpoke

at 19:37 on July 16th, 2009

FOX News Reports 9 dead 50 wounded.

albertacowpoke

at 20:16 on July 16th, 2009

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia's security minister says nine people have been killed and 50 wounded in hotel blasts in downtown Jakarta.

The minister says a New Zealander was among those killed. Thirteen other foreigners were among injured in the blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels.

The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died, but it has been more than three years since a major terrorist attack in Indonesia.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Mauibrad (not verified)

at 22:48 on July 16th, 2009

Nice job Tina on compiling this story.

albertacowpoke

at 02:48 on July 17th, 2009

Terrorist Group Blamed for Jakarta Attacks: President. 2 Canadians among injured, suicide bomber.

khaniv13

at 10:11 on July 17th, 2009

Ritz Carlton Hotel bombing, July 17th, 2009.

source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/khaniv13/3728193887/

khaniv13 has contributed a photo to this story.

themillersofliverpool

at 12:26 on July 17th, 2009

Less than an hour after the first explosion

themillersofliverpool has contributed a photo to this story.

my.wahyu (not verified)

at 20:03 on July 17th, 2009

yes .. in the evening a toll road, redirected to north jakarta..

From Priok (nort jakarta) to rawamangun (east jakarta).. only 45 minutes ..became 2-3 hours .. very crowded.

IVA LUCIANA (not verified)

at 01:42 on July 22nd, 2009

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