Terror in Bali

(Jakarta, Indonesia) Near-simultaneous bomb blasts ripped through popular tourist areas of Kuta and Jimbaran Beach on the Indonesian island of Bali on Saturday killing at least 23 persons and wounding at least 35 foreign tourists. Details remain sketchy.

Two explosions hit beachside area seafood restaurants at dinner time and minutes later an explosion struck a popular shopping area, Matahan Square.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono strongly condemned the bombings in a televised address: "These are clearly terrorist attacks because the targets were random and public places."

Linked to al-Qaeda, the Jemaah Islamiyah Islamic terrorist group has been blamed.


[Update 1500 EDT]

Xinhua now reports that at 30 people are dead. In another report, the blasts are being blamed on the fuel oil price hikes of an average of 126 percent instituted Saturday. Professor Budiatna of the University of Indonesia observed that opposition groups no longer demonstrate because the government ignores them.

"They pressured (the government) by resorting to terrors. Their message is to lower the fuel oil price or else the terror acts will continue," the observer added.

Realistically, it's hard to peg motive to terrorist acts as Budiatna suggests. Their goal is to kill and create chaos. Terrorists don't need any special reason.


[Update 1530 EDT]

The BBC reports that over 100 are wounded.

From Aljazeera.com:

A government spokesman, Dino Djalal, said up to six bombs exploded at different locations.

Local media said police discovered a number of unexploded devices.

As yet, no group has claimed responsibility. However, the near-simultaneous attacks with multiple explosive devices indicates serious planning was involved.

Companion at The Jawa Report.