Indonesia hotel blasts kill nine

Indonesia says suicide bombers were behind twin blasts that killed at least nine people in two luxury hotels. CCTV captured the moment when a bomb tore through the JW Marriott in Jakarta’s prestigious business district. A few minutes later, another device went off at the nearby Ritz Carlton.

It is thought both bombs were detonated inside the hotel restaurants. Dozens of people were injured, including foreigners. A New Zealander is known to be among the dead.

Indonesia’s newly re-elected president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said terrorists were behind what he called “the darkest point” in the country’s history. He visited some of the at least 50 people hurt in the explosions, the first major attacks in Indonesia since 2005.

It is thought the bombers may have checked in as hotel guests. A third device was found and defused on the 18th floor of the Marriott where blasts six years ago left a dozen people dead.

Today’s carnage bears the hallmark of attacks blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah militant group. Stars of Manchester United Football Club, due to stay at the Ritz-Carlton next week, have now cancelled the Indonesian leg of their Asian tour.

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tags: Indonesia, Jakarta bombing, Terrorism