Deadly bomb blasts and gun battles near Jakarta hotel
Seven people are reported to have been killed in terror attacks in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, including at least three suspected attackers.
A series of blasts and gunfire took place near the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel and Sarinah Plaza on Jalan Sudirman Thamrin in central Jakarta.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged British citizens to ‘avoid the affected area, limit your movements and follow the advice of local authorities’.
Details are still not clear, but some reports say there were at least two explosions at a Starbucks cafe outside the Sarinah shopping centre and next to a police security post.
Starbucks has closed all of its cafes in Jakarta until further notice.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic acts that have taken place in Jakarta today," it said.
The US Embassy in Jakarta issued a warning for all US citizens to avoid the downtown area.
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has condemned the explosions as an act of terror.
"I convey deep condolences to the victims of this explosion," he said in a statement.
"Whatever the motive is, we condemn the act of terror that has disturbed the public’s peace."
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he was horrified to hear of the terrorist attacks.
"We advise British nationals in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia to maintain vigilance and monitor FCO travel advice, local media and to follow the advice of local security authorities."
Indonesia was on high alert over the New Year period following ISIS threats.
Islamic militant groups have claimed responsibility for several bombings in Indonesia in recent years.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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