Blasts, gunfight occur in Indonesian capital shopping mall

Police (L) hide behind vehicles during an exchange of gunfire with suspects hiding near a Starbucks cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on Jan 14, 2016. [Photo/CFP]

JAKARTA - At least six explosions were heard in the shopping mall of Sarinah located at the heart of the Indonesian capital on Thursday morning, with fire exchanges between suspected terrorists and police going on and at least six people killed .

One person was seen lying on the ground, allegedly shot during the fire exchanges between police and what was reported as a terrorist group by local TV station Metro TV.

The explosions took place around 10:40 am Western Indonesian Time (WIT) in the shopping mall located in Jakarta, a few blocks away from the presidential palace.

The TV reported that the suspected terrorist group members were using assault rifles in the fire exchanges with the police.

A witness said the fire exchanges were heard following a series of explosions in the mall premises. The witness said 2 or 3 people were seen lying on the ground during the shootout.

The TV reported that ambulances and more police have come to Sarinah.

"The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him," said a photographer.

Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population. Indonesia has been on edge over recent weeks about the danger of Islamist militants and counter-terrorism police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to Islamic State.