Hotel blast 'caused by suicide bomber'

JAKARTA (JP): The explosion at the JW Marriot Hotel in the Mega Kuningan business complex in Kuningan, South Jakarta, was a suicide bombing, a senior minister said on Tuesday.

"It is definitely a suicide bombing using a car," saidCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the scene of the explosion.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said police had found the wreckage of a Kijang minivan believed to have been used in the explosion.

"Our officers found the car's engine and chassis registration numbers, as well as its number plate," he said.

"Based on this information we will start our investigation to find the culprits," he said.

Da'i said the explosion left a crater of some two meters in diameter in the hotel's lobby.

"So far the death toll is at 10, with another 70 injured. The blast also damaged 22 vehicles," he said.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said the blast was caused by a high-explosive bomb. He said the explosion destroyed the hotel lobby and shattered windows as high up as the 20th floor of the hotel.