From Washington, this is VOA News.
I’m Ira Mellman reporting.
There is a claim of responsibility for a terrorist attack today in Indonesia.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for Thursday's coordinated bomb and gun attack in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta that left seven people dead, including all five attackers.
The violence began with a series of explosions in the middle of the morning in an area near a shopping center, luxury hotels, embassies, and other office buildings. In total, six blasts were reported.
At least one of those blasts occurred close to a Starbucks coffee shop frequented by foreigners. The coffee chain later said it closed all of its locations in Jakarta as a security precaution.
Here is VOA Indonesian Service reporter Frans Demon.
“They (the attackers) using grenades, but some say that they may also use suicide bombs near the Starbucks café. But the grenades they throw to the police.”
By late afternoon, authorities declared the attack over, saying all five militants were killed. Two other people, a Canadian and an Indonesian, were also killed, according to police.
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority nation, has been the target of several terrorist attacks, most notably the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists.
Before Thursday, the last attack against foreigners was a twin hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2009.
Jakarta has long been warning about the threat of recruitment by Islamic State and other extremist groups. Hundreds of Indonesians are believed to have left to fight with Islamic State in Syria and in Iraq.
Make sure you follow all the latest developments on this story and all else on our website. You can find it at voanews.com.
This is VOA News.
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Words in This Newscast
coordinated – adj. organized
shopping – adj. of or related to a place where goods and/or services are sold
luxury – adj. very rich, desirable or costly
blasts – n. explosions
occurred – v. took pace
frequented – v. visited
chain – n. a group of businesses usually under a single ownership
locations – n. places
precaution – n. something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble
grenades – n. small bombs
cafe – n. a small restaurant where simple meals and drinks are served
afternoon – n. the middle of the day
authorities – n. officials
tourists – n. people who travel to a place for fun or pleasure
twin – n. one of two persons or things that are closely related
recruitment – adj. of or related to adding new members to a population or group
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