Attack in downtown Jakarta ends, 5 assailants, 2 civilians dead

Jakarta: Indonesian police say the bombing and gun attack in a busy shopping area of downtown Jakarta has ended with five assailants confirmed dead.

Jakarta police spokesman Col. Muhammad Iqbal says two other people have also been killed in the Thursday morning attack around the Sarinah shopping mall, the oldest in Jakarta on Thamarin Street.

He says: "We believe there are no more attackers around Sarinah. We have taken control."

He says two of the attackers have been were killed by police but did not say how the others died.

It's not clear if any more attackers are at large outside the Sarinah area.

Police had earlier said four attackers and three others were killed but later revised the numbers. Witnesses had also said that they saw five attackers.

Starbucks says one customer sustained injuries from an explosion in Jakarta and was treated on the scene while all employees are confirmed to be safe.

The company says in a statement initial reports suggest the explosion took place close to a store in the Skyline building near one of police posts in downtown Jakarta.

It says: "We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts that have taken place in Jakarta today; our hearts are with the people of Indonesia."

Starbucks says all stores in Jakarta will remain closed, out of an abundance of caution, until further notice.

At least three explosions rocked downtown Jakarta Thursday mid-morning followed by more than two hours of gunbattles. A witness told The Associated Press that the explosions occurred inside a Starbucks cafe.

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said in a statement on national TV that the situation was under control and called on the people to remain calm. Jokowi said, "The state, nation and people should not be afraid of, and lose to, such terror acts."

Read:

Islamic State group claims Jakarta attacks

Witness says 3 suicide bombers exploded in Jakarta Starbucks

He spoke after suspected Islamic militants detonated bombs and opened fire at police in downtown Jakarta, killing at least one policeman. An Associated Press photographer saw three more bodies lying in a sidewalk.

A police post on a main street was damaged after six blasts were heard. An Indonesia police spokesman confirmed that at least three policemen and three civilians had lost their lives.

Indonesia bombing

The area has many luxury hotels, and offices and embassies, including the French.

Read: Islamic State issued cryptic warning ahead of Jakarta attacks: police

Witnesses said the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, but there was no immediate confirmation of the claim.

Indonesia has been a victim of several bombing attacks in the past, claimed by Islamic militant groups.

Jakarta bombing

The country has been on high alert after authorities said they had foiled a plot by Islamic militants to attack government officials, foreigners and others. About 150,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed during New Year's Eve to guard churches, airports and other public places.

More than 9,000 police were also deployed in Bali, the site of Indonesia's deadliest terror attack, which killed 202 people in 2002.

National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Anton Charliyan said security is focused on anticipating attacks in vulnerable regions, including Jakarta.

On Tuesday, the jailed radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to an Indonesia court to have his conviction for funding a terror training camp overturned, arguing that his support for the camp was an act of worship.

Jakarta bombing

The 77-year-old leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant network filed a judicial review of his 2011 conviction, when he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for setting up the camp in Aceh province. A higher court later cut the sentence to nine years.

A UN representative present at the scene is giving a blow-by-blow account of what’s happening on his Twitter account.

Here are his tweets: