Bomb blasts the work of terrorists, Indonesia says

Indonesia has said the explosions that ripped through two luxury hotels in Jakarta were the work of terrorists. But President Susilo Banbang Yudhoyono has yet to say which terror cell is to blame.

There are fears the attacks could affect Indonesia’s vital tourist industry. Australia has already warned against travelling there with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd giving his first reaction to the bombings.

‘‘I was sick in the stomach as I think all Australians would feel sick in the stomach. This is an assault on all of us and we are dealing with some very ugly people here. Very, very ugly people, and dangerous,’‘ Rudd said.

More than a thousand Australians are thought to have been in Jakarta at the time of the bombings. Victims are believed to have come from eight countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Islamist militants have been blamed in the past for similar bombings, notably the Bali attacks in 2002.

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tags: Indonesia, Jakarta bombing, Terrorism