Indonesia police on the watch after attacks (Source: AFP)Jakarta (VNA) – No Vietnamese were killed or injured during a series of bomb attacks and gunfight in downtown Jakarta, Indonesia on January 14, the Vietnamese Embassy to Indonesia has confirmed.
The embassy said it is keeping a close watch on developments and has opened a hotline – 0811 161 025 – to receive information about possible Vietnamese victims and provide support if necessary.
At least seven people were killed and 20 other were injured in the attacks, according to Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal.
Two civilians, including a suspected Dutch national; and five of the attackers, two of whom were suicide bombers, were dead, he noted.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said one of its nationals was wounded but could not confirm reports by the Indonesian authority about the death of a Dutch national.
Seven explosions rang out near Sarinah shopping mall while a gunfight between the attackers and police took place right in front of the mall.
The blasts came after the Islamic State issued a warning of carrying out attacks in Jakarta, national police spokesman Anton Charliyan told the press at the scene.
But it was not clear yet which group was behind the multiple attacks, he added.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called the attacks “acts of terror”, said he will cut short his trip to Cirebon on the Indonesian island of Java, and will return to Jakarta immediately.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders condemned the attacks, calling for international solidarity in the fight against terror groups.
The Netherlands’ Embassy in Jakarta has warned its citizens to stay indoors, and confirmed it would stay in contact by sending text messages with updates on the situation.
The US Embassy also issued an emergency message urging US citizens to avoid downtown Jakarta.-VNA
