Indonesia blast caught on camera

[Red Squirrel]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3648614.stm

Police in Indonesia have released dramatic pictures of the bomb attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

The CCTV footage shows the white mini van believed to have been carrying the explosives approach the embassy.

The images - taken from cameras at the scene and released by the Indonesian police - then catch the moment of the blast itself.

Nine people were killed and more than 180 were injured in Thursday's explosion in the Indonesian capital.

The pictures were taken by security cameras on two separate buildings close to the Australian embassy.

The white van is shown moving slowly on the opposite side of the road to the embassy.

The driver appears to have then made a u-turn as a short time later the van is picked up again on the second camera moving back towards its target.

Chilling pictures

And then the moment of the explosion. Smoke and dust fills the screen, but the camera is still recording.

About 20 seconds later, the smoke clears to reveal figures running in panic as debris falls from the sky.

The chilling pictures have been broadcast repeatedly on Indonesian television.

The footage was shown during a press conference given by Indonesia's police chief, Dai Bachtiar, who said his men were powerless to prevent this sort of attack.

General Bachtiar also confirmed reports that two senior militant leaders, wanted in connection with the Bali nightclub bombings two years ago, are thought to have spent the past few months recruiting new volunteers for suicide missions in Indonesia.

The two men are believed to have rented a house on the outskirts of Jakarta near the international airport as recently as July.

But when police raided the property they had already fled.

Traces of TNT and sulphur were found in the house. The same chemicals have also been found at the site of Thursday's explosion.

Indonesian and Australian police are now warning that the threat of further attacks remains very real.

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