Reports coming in
THE 5TH ESTATE
By Robert S. Finnegan
07/05/2016
JAKARTA -
0938 Western Jakarta Time
A motorcycle suicide bomber has attacked the police headquarters in Solo, Central Jave this morning at approximately 0730, killing himself and reportedly wounding a police officer. There are no reports of damage to the headquarters itself.
The bomber had attempted to enter the headquarters compound and was confronted by police, ignoring commands to halt. When police began to pursue him he detonated the device.
Solo police are reporting they have no motive so far for the attack, no claim of responsibility and the bomber has not yet been identified.
The police headquarters remains locked down and under heavy guard.
The Chief of Central Java Police Major General Condro Kironosaid said a bomb squad is searching the area around the police headquarters for explosives, and also that police believe the failed attack was conducted by militants that target police and other security forces. He gave no specifics as to affiliation.
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Remains of the suicide bomber's motorcycle |
The investigation is in the early stages and additional information will be forcoming.
Robert S. Finnegan is a retired investigative journalist and journalism professor based in Jakarta, where he resides with his spouse photographer Imas Kurniawati-Finnegan. He may be contacted at rsfinnegan@gmail.com or at +62-812-9173-1666.