Bombers 'spreaders of death'

2009-07-17 16:08

Jakarta - Twin bombings that killed at least nine people at luxury hotels in Jakarta on Friday were "terrorist" acts by "spreaders of death", Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

"The country must not allow people who have committed crimes and murders to get away. They have become Draculas and spreaders of death," Yudhoyono said at a news conference broadcast on local television.

"I am convinced we can capture and punish according to the law the perpetrators of this act of terrorism," he said.

He said the attackers "have no humanity and they don't care about the damage done to our country with this act of terrorism which will have wide effects on our economy, trade, tourism and image in the eyes of the world."

Indonesia has been attempting to trade on years of relative stability to woo foreign investment in its crumbling infrastructure and encourage tourists to visits its famous beaches, temples and volcanoes.

The country was hit by a series of bombings including 2002 and 2005 attacks in Bali that killed more than 200 people, but had before Friday enjoyed more than three years without a major attack.

Attacks may be linked to election

The president, who was re-elected for a second term in a landslide last week, said he had heard theories that the attack was linked to the election but it was too early to say who was responsible.

"This morning I heard from several parties who have an unsettling theory that this terror act is related to the presidential election," he said.

"My response is that we should not point fingers and suspicions. All theories and speculation should be proven."

Yudhoyono said he had received videos and photos from intelligence agencies showing a "terrorist group" had used photos of himself for target practice around the time of the election.

Holding up a photo of his portrait pierced by what appeared to be a bullet hole, an emotional Yudhoyono said: "There are video recordings and pictures. This is not slander, this is not a rumour."

"I have instructed law enforcement to punish whoever is involved in this terror act, regardless of their political background," the president said.

At least 40 people, including foreigners, were injured in the bombings on the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in the upscale Mega Kuningan district of Jakarta.

Analysts have said the attacks bear the hallmarks of a splinter group of the radical Jemaah Islamiyah network headed by Malaysian Noordin Mohammed Top, the alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali attacks.

- SAPA