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Australian man injured in Jakarta bomb blasts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-17 14:09

CANBERRA: Four foreigners were killed and at least one Australian man was reportedly injured in three explosions that rocked Jakarta on Friday.

"High explosive bombs" caused the two blasts at the Ritz- Carlton and Marriot hotels which killed at least nine people and injured 41 others according to the Indonesian security minister.

A third blast at a shopping complex followed about two hours later.

Related readings:  Officials: 9 dead, 50 wounded in Indonesian blasts  Bombings at Indonesian luxury hotels, 6 dead  Six killed in central Jakarta hotel bombings - police  Police find unexploded bomb at Jakarta Marriott hotel

Australian Strategic Policy Institute national security project director Carl Ungerer said a small splinter group made up of dissident Jemaah Islamiah (JI) members may be behind the bombings.

"The hardline splinter group were simply not accepting of the view ... amongst some of the JI leadership that they move towards a consolidation phase," Ungerer said.

Australian consular officials are urgently trying to find out whether any Australians were killed or injured in the explosions, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

The Seven Network reported that at least one Australian had been injured though it was not believed to be a serious injury at this stage.