Jakarta hotel blasts were high explosive: Police

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 07/17/2009 1:20 PM | Jakarta
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Sukarna said preliminary investigations show the fatal explosions that hit Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels were caused by high explosives

"We need further examination to determine whether the bombing was a suicide bombing or another type of bombing," he said.

A Police Bomb Squad (Gegana) officer said the explosions could be positively identified as caused by high explosives based on the impacts. "The explosion in the basement broke glass on the third floor. That is huge," he said.

The explosion at the Marriott hotel was reported to have occurred at 7:47 a.m. at the Restaurant Syailendra in the hotel's basement, only two minutes before the explosion at the Ritz Carlton.

Three Gegana vehicles have left the site carrying debris for further investigation. (bbs)