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9 dead, 50 wounded in Jakarta blasts

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-17 12:49

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JAKARTA: Indonesia's security minister says Friday nine people have been killed and 50 wounded in a pair of powerful bomb blasts in two luxury hotels in downtown Jakarta.

The minister says a New Zealander was among those killed. Thirteen other foreigners were among injured in the blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels.

South Jakarta police Col. Firman Bundi earlier said that four of the dead were foreigners.

At the Metropolitan Medical Center, a list was posted with the names of 36 people wounded. An official at the registration office said 11 were foreigners. She declined to give her name because she was not authorized to speak to the media.

An injured woman is evacuated from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel after an explosion in Jakarta July 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Alex Asmasubrata, who was jogging by the hotels, said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.

The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died, but it has been more than three years since a major terrorist attack in Indonesia.

The Manchester United football team was scheduled to stay at the Ritz on Saturday and Sunday nights for a friendly match against the Indonesian All Stars, the Indonesian Football association said.

International hotels, which by their nature must be open and accessible for visitors and guests, make attractive targets for terror attacks. Complete security is virtually impossible, despite security barriers, metal detectors and high-tech surveillance gear.