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
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