ABC AUSTRALIA, 02/08/2002 20:07:16
Police bomb squad scrambles in Ambon
As many as 16 home-made bombs have been found at a school in the troubled
Indonesian island of Ambon.
A number of witnesses at the scene said the bombs were neatly made using pipes
and closed with thin plastic.
The state Antara newsagency reported the devices had been placed inside a brown
leather bag and then covered by a plastic bag.
Antara said residents moved the package to another location before a police bomb
squad arrived.
Police have secured the scene and begun investigating.
Last Saturday a bomb wounded at least 54 people in Ambon.
Christian residents said they suspected the military was behind the blast - not their
one-time Muslim enemies.
The military denied any involvement but did not rule out the involvement of deserters.
Peace has returned to most of the Maluku islands since Christians and Muslims
signed a peace pact in February but periodic violence still occurs in Ambon, the
provincial capital.
More than 5,000 people have died during inter-religious fighting which began in
January 1999.
02/08/2002 20:07:16 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
