JW Marriott Jakarta bombing
On 5 August 2003, a car bomb exploded at lunchtime outside the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta's embassy and business district. Early death tolls varied: the Indonesian Red Cross gave 14 (The Guardian, 5 Aug 2003), and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer gave 16 (SMH, 6 Aug 2003). The Guardian later reported, in 2004, that 12 people were killed. About 150 people were injured, most of the victims were Indonesian, and a Dutch banker, Hans Winkelmolen, was among the dead.
Indonesian police chief General Da'i Bachtiar said: "From the things we found at the crime scene, it looks very much like the bomb in Bali". Indonesian police asked the Australian Federal Police for help. Prime Minister John Howard said: "I am quite horrified at what appears to be a brutal terrorist attack". He authorised the AFP Commissioner to provide assistance, and the SMH reported that eight AFP crime scene investigators were sent.
Australian angle: Downer said at least one Australian was injured. That man needed 30 stitches and had been discharged from hospital, and another Australian in the hotel was traumatised. Howard said: "We Australians should understand this is very much an attack on Indonesia." Australia warned its citizens to stay away from central Jakarta.
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