It was a normal Thursday morning for Jakarta as people milled about when several gunmen and terrorists attacked in the heart of the capital. The first explosion that shook the country was around 10.30 in the morning near Starbucks that is close to the United Nations office as reported by Reuters. This explosion was followed by a coordinated assault by gunmen and suicide bombers across the city of Jakarta.
The people of Indonesia were once again reminded of the last major militant attacks in Jakarta that were in July 2009, with bombs at the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton Hotels.
But, what was unprecedented was the coordination in the bombings and gunfire that resembled the sieges seen in Mumbai Taj Attacks and Paris Bombings. The echoes of lives lost still ring clear through the world as we continue to grieve.
The assault that took place on the poignant day of 14 January 2016 was claimed by Islamic state (or ISIS); the first time the radical group has targeted the world’s most populous Muslim nation. This only shows terror has no religion and no place in this world.
The official record of lives lost is at 7 and wounded is 20 as of now but the number doesn’t reduce the gravity of the situation. It is a grave situation how much havoc terrorism has caused so far. Be it a major power like USA or a developing nation like Indonesia, they all are haunted by the devil named terrorism.
India, over the years, has been a victim to many terrorist attacks along with the rest of the world. As human beings and a nation that firmly believes in “Vasundhav Kutumkumb”, that is, the world is one large family; we stand united in the fight against terrorism and pray for all those who were victims of terrorism.
As the Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai puts it beautifully, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” Lets unite our voices in this fight against terrorism that plagues our world.
#PrayForJakarta
