There was no additional security cover for the president and his entourage who arrived in eight cars for the inspection.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo inspected the situation in Jakarta on Friday following the terrorist attack on Thursday that left seven people dead, including the five attackers.
"What is of importance is that it could be settled quickly within a short period of time," he stated while visiting the Sarinah department stores compound on Thamrin Boulevard where the incident occurred.
The president said he wanted to make assurance that activities of the people were back to normal.
"I wish to see the real condition in the field. The flow of traffic and the situation at the mall are back to normal. Activities are proceeding as usual," he affirmed.
After speaking to some community members and employees at the shopping mall, President Widodo headed to the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.
There was no additional security cover for the president and his entourage who arrived in eight cars for the inspection.
Seven people were killed in the terror attacks, including five of the attackers, a Canadian national, and an Indonesian civilian.
Twenty people, including five police officers, were injured in the attacks.
President Widodo has condemned the bomb blasts targeting the Thamrin Boulevard in Central Jakarta and has ordered the police to arrest the perpetrators.
"I have ordered the National Police chief and the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs to chase down and arrest the suspects, both those on the scene and other members of the networks," he noted.
The head of state expressed condolences over the casualties resulting from the blasts.
He affirmed that terror attacks would never be able to incite a sense of fear or defeat among Indonesians and has appealed to the public to remain calm.
Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command Chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian has confirmed that the terrorists who orchestrated the attack in Jakarta on Thursday were linked to the ISIS terror group.
"Our team is now on the lookout for the members of the terror network, who are linked to the ISIS group in Raqqa," he stated during a press conference held at the presidential office following a meeting led by the president on the issue on Thursday evening.
He said the ISIS group had changed its strategy. They earlier operated only in Syria and Iraq, but after their leader, Abubakar Baghdadi, ordered them to spread their activities outside Iraq and Syria, they had begun setting up ISIS terror modules across the world, he explained.
"The cells can be found in France, Europe, North Africa, Turkey, as well as Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries," he pointed out.
Especially in Southeast Asia, there is a figure who is keen to set up a "Khatibah Nusantara," and he wants to be the leader of the ISIS group in the region.
"Later, a rivalry for leadership had developed. In the Philippines, they have set up a terror module in South Philippines, and now, multiple people are competing for the leadership. In connection with this, one of the ISIS figures launched these attacks. Meanwhile, we have identified the group, and we are still chasing them," Tito affirmed.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
