Bomb blasts kill six at Indonesia hotels

BREAKING NEWS:

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Bombs exploded at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in the Indonesian capital on Friday, ripping the facade off the Ritz and killing six and injuring 36. The casualty toll came from a Jakarta hospital doctor. Police said foreigners are among the casualties.

The head of the Health Ministry crisis center, Rustam Pakaya, said at least two people were seriously injured, including one New Zealander. One hospital emergency room said it was already treating 15 people.

South Jakarta police Col. Firman Bundi confirmed that four foreigners were killed in the blasts at the neighboring hotels in an upscale Jakarta neighborhood.

Debris and shattered glass littered the street outside, and ambulances were being shuttled into the area.

Alex Asmasubrata, who was jogging by the hotels, said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz. He saw four bodies inside the Marriott, including one with its stomach blown out.

The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died. Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah was blamed in that blast.