Indonesian President: Jakarta Attacks Were Terrorist

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, was the site of several explosions on January 24, resulting in multiple fatalities. Reports indicate that gunfire also occurred in the city center. Indonesian police confirmed that "bombs" were the cause of the explosions. Hours after initial reports, Indonesian President Joko Widodo labeled the attacks as "terrorist". In a televised speech, he stated, "Our country and nation should not be worried. We will not succumb to these terrorist acts. I hope the people maintain their calm." According to reports from AFP, one of the explosions damaged a police station on one of the city's main streets. A journalist from the agency reported hearing at least six explosions. Images and brief news reports have also surfaced on social media, including Twitter, showing bodies in some central streets of the city. At least four people have been killed, one of whom is a police officer. Some reports indicate that there were shootings in front of a café, and special police forces were dispatched to the scene. Reuters reported that one of the explosions occurred at a "Starbucks" café. One photographer from the agency noted that the café's windows were shattered... someone is on the roof of a building, and police forces have aimed their weapons at him. Jakarta police tweeted that one of the explosions occurred in front of a shopping center named "Sarina". NDTV reported that one explosion happened near the United Nations office. Military forces have taken to the streets. Just a day before the explosions on Thursday, the website of the "Nike" newspaper quoted Doi Fortuna Anwar, an advisor to the Indonesian president, as saying that the country is concerned about the return of citizens who have joined the group known as the "Islamic State". On the other hand, Reuters quoted the head of Indonesia's intelligence agency as saying there is no evidence that the so-called "Islamic State" was behind the Jakarta attacks. It remains unclear who was involved in the attacks. Indonesia has a population of 210 million, making it the most populous Muslim-majority country. Additionally, millions of its citizens are members of Islamic organizations such as "Muhammadiyah" and "Nahdlatul Ulama". The last major bombings occurred in 2009 at a hotel in Jakarta, primarily targeting tourists and foreign nationals, resulting in seven deaths. In recent years, Indonesian citizens and police forces have predominantly been the targets of attacks by extremist groups and figures.