Terrorists Strike In Jakarta, Killing Eight

Multiple bombs were detonated, killing at least eight people at a Jakarta Marriott and a Ritz Carlton. At least 53 people were injured. Both were known to have high security, and despite that, the terrorists murdered eight people. Indeed, the Marriott was the scene of a deadly bombing in 2003, which killed 12 and wounded 150.

Suicide bombers set off explosions at two hotels here Friday morning that killed eight people and wounded 53, police said, in Indonesia's worst terrorist attack in four years.

National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the bodies of two suicide bombers were found near the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton in the city's central business district. At least one of the eight killed was a foreigner, but he said four bodies have yet to be identified. Eighteen of the people injured by were foreigners, he said.

A security sweep of the Marriott after the blast revealed another device in a room, which was defused. That suggests that the bombers were able to gain access to the hotel as guests.

The suicide bombers used explosive they were keeping in a room at the Marriott, Mr. Danuri said. The first bomb was detonated at the Marriott at 7:47 a.m. local time at the lounge in the lobby, near a meeting of foreign business people. That explosion killed five. The second bomb was detonated at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel 10 minutes later, on a second floor restaurant, killing two. One person later died in a hospital. The streets outside the two hotels, which sit adjacent to each other in a new business district in central part of the capital city, were covered in shattered glass and debris.

The dead included Timothy Mackay, chief executive of PT Holcim Indonesia, the local unit of Swiss cement maker Holcim Ltd., a spokesman for the company said.

Mr. Mackey was among several victims attending an Indonesian business forum held at the J.W. Marriott Friday morning. The meeting, organized by consulting firm CastleAsia, was part of a series of events sponsored by the firm that gathers prominent business executives and political leaders to discuss Indonesian affairs.

So, who was behind the attacks? My best guess would be none other than Jemaah Islamiyah, which has ties to al Qaeda. Others suspect that it might be a splinter group that is dissatisfied with the leadership. The hotels are seen as symbols of the West, particularly the United States. The Marriott had been used by the US embassy for various events over the years, so the attacks are show an intent to attack a symbol of the United States.

Moreover, it shows the terrorists' willingness to repeatedly attack high value targets.

It will have an effect on Indonesia's economic situation, as the tourism industry is expecting to take a serious hit for the next several months until the fears of terrorism recede into dim memories.

UPDATE:
CCTV at the Marriott hotel captured the blast:


Meanwhile, Manchester United, which had been scheduled to compete in a soccer competition in Indonesia and which was planning on staying at the Marriott, has withdrawn from the competition.

UPDATE:
Two hours after the initial blasts, a car bomb went off in Jakarta, killing another two people.