Al Qaeda links to Jakarta bombing

By GREG ANSLEY AND AGENCIES

A car bomb outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta that killed eight people bears all the hallmarks of a Malaysian suspect in an al Qaeda-linked group, say Indonesian police.

The attacks come a day after the American Embassy warned its citizens against all non-official travel to Indonesia, saying it continued to receive signs that the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror network was planning attacks around the anniversary of the September 11 strikes on the United States.

The attack, in which 161 people were injured, was similar to car bomb blasts outside the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year and also on the island of Bali in 2002, General Da'i Bachtiar said.

Police say the Malaysian suspect, Azahari, is the main figure behind the making of those bombs.

New Zealand Embassy staff in Jakarta felt the impact of the blast, despite being 2km away.

"There was a large explosion and the building shook quite violently for a good five seconds," the embassy's deputy head of mission, David Strachan, said last night.

"We thought there may have been a device underneath us."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said last night that she had spoken to Australian PM John Howard to convey New Zealand's deep concern.

The attack had appalled the New Zealand Government, she said.

The Government condemned all acts of terrorism and would continue to work with the international community to counter such deliberate and cold-blooded attacks.

"Our thoughts tonight are first and foremost with those who have been caught up in this tragedy, their families and friends, and with the people of Australia and Indonesia."

The Prime Minister repeated advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that there was no evidence New Zealanders had been caught in the blast.

The powerful blast at 10.15am local time (3pm NZ time) on one of Jakarta's two main thoroughfares killed officers of the Indonesian National Police Mobile Brigade and Australian-employed Indonesian security guards standing outside the embassy.

At least seven large buildings neighbouring the embassy were severely damage.

At least one body was seen being removed from an office tower next to the embassy.

A suicide car bomber is believed responsible but there was little left of the car after it was detonated 4m from the embassy gate.

The bombing came amid fears in Australia that the country could be targeted in the leadup to the October 9 election.

There were fears that terrorists could try to repeat the Madrid bombings in which 191 people died days before the election that toppled the Government and led to the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq. Cameron Bates,