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Terror Attacks in Jakarta; . Aired Midnight-1a ET

Aired January 14, 2016 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:00:31] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody, I'm John Vause. We'd like to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world.

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Isha Sesay. We are following breaking news for you in Jakarta, Indonesia where there are reports of several explosions in the center of the city. Reuters and AFP News Agencies report at least three people were killed.

VAUSE: CNN Indonesia says a police station appears to have been one of the targets. We're also hearing reports of blasts near a shopping center. It's not immediately clear who may be behind these attacks. CNN's Kathy Quiano joining us now from Jakarta, on the line, with more on this story; so, Kathy, give us an update. Exactly what's happening right now.

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, I am at the site of the explosion, or a few hundred yards away. It's been cordoned off by the police, but the police spokesman just spoke to reporters earlier, and he confirmed that there are four people dead, one policeman and three civilians. Now it's not clear if these civilians were the attackers or were they were just civilians who happened to be at the area. They said it's not clear, and they could not identify the bodies just yet.

But he did say that the explosion was from a grenade, or several grenades because there were reports that there were several explosions; and these grenades were lobbed at the police station, which is at an intersection and a very busy street in central Jakarta. Its right in front of a Starbucks shop and the U.N. - the building where the U.N. offices are is also in the area.

Now the police spokesman also said that they are in pursuit of another attacker who was -- who escaped from the scene and who is probably armed. He said security forces are after this man now, but as we see here, there is a lot of police in the area and he said it's very unclear who is behind this attack. So far they have no -- they will not say who may be behind it. John?

VAUSE: So, Kathy, there is also this report of ongoing heavy gunfire in downtown Jakarta. Is that still ongoing or is that situation now resolved with this apparent suspect fleeing the scene?

QUIANO: There were reports that there were actually gunfire, there was gunfire exchanged at this police station that was attacked with the grenades. Now we're not -- we're hearing also unconfirmed reports of other attacks in other parts of the city, but again, that's unconfirmed. We have no information of that as yet.

So far this area that was attacked earlier where four people had died is cordoned off. There is heavy security around here. And also on my way here, you could see that the city is on the edge. It's been a while since a major attack or terrorist attack was launched in Jakarta, the capital Jakarta. There have been several minor attacks outside, particularly in the provinces of Java and Sulawesi, in Central Sulawesi where police have been in pursuit of a small group calling themselves East Indonesian mujahedeen, headed by Indonesians most wanted terrorist who had pledged his support to ISIS, but the police would not say for now who may be behind the attack in Jakarta today. John?

VAUSE: Kathy, looking at the images that we're seeing from Jakarta, it does seem to be quite a substantial blast and there are some reports which say it was massive explosion, which would seem to be at odds with the police explanation here that a number of grenades were used in this attack. I'm wondering is there any way at this point to clarify what is going on here?

QUIANO: From what I see, it does not look like it was a major blast. The police spokesman did say there were -- grenades were used in this attack. It was a police outpost that was targeted. So you don't see a lot of damage. It is in front of -- it's right in the middle of the intersection. So none of the buildings around it have been damaged at all, from what I see. So, you know, it is not a major blast, in terms, I think, of what the explosives used as the police said; but, again, it's very early to tell what really happened here earlier today. John?

SESAY: Kathy, it's Isha here. A question for you, prior to this [00:05:17] attack, these events that are still playing out there in Indonesia, what was the government's assessment of the threat posed by terrorism to the nation?

QUIANO: Well, many government officials and terror analysts were in agreement that the terror network that was in place here in Indonesia, the terror network that was responsible for the major bombings in Bali and in Jakarta years ago, had been weakened, that the threat was actually quite low, in terms of launching a huge attack, and that may still be true. According to terror experts here in the region, the networks have been splintered. They have smaller groups now who may not be working together and may not be capable of launching a major attack.

And also we saw a shift here in Indonesia after they bombed the resort island of Bali in 2002 and then they bombed the Marriott Hotel and the Embassy here in Jakarta. There was a shift from soft targets to hard targets. Smaller terror networks here started targeting police and government authorities and that's why in recent years we've seen certain cases where they assassinated policemen on guard, particularly the island of Sulawesi and we see now here. There is some speculation that the police was targeted in this explosion today in Jakarta. It was an outpost that supposedly the man threw grenades at. Isha?

VAUSE: And Kathy, -- and Kathy, just to expand on what these explosions were and who may be responsible for it, because there has been these reports out there that possibly suicide bombers were involved in this. What more do you know than at this point?

QUIANO: Yes, that is, for now, speculation, as I said. The police said there were three civilians who were killed on the site. They would not confirm that they were suicide bombers. There is a possibility that they were, in fact, the attackers of the police, and we don't know. And, in terms, of using grenades and suicide bombings, it's really, again, not clear what their plan was. As I mentioned earlier, the police in pursuit of at least one attacker who was armed with a firearm, who fled the scene; that's a new modus operandi, I think, in terms of terrorist attacks here in Indonesia and it will be, -- I'm sure, the police will try to get all these questions answered very quickly. John?

SESAY: And Kathy, Isha again. You mentioned that there was a U.N. building in the vicinity of the site of these explosions. Do we know anything more about what's happening at that location? Has it been cleared? Do we have any details?

QUIANO: I'm at the opposite end of the road. I see the building from here. There's a lot of - it's quite -- it's the end of the central business district actually that is just demarcating the business district from the government offices that's down the road. The Presidential Palace actually isn't far away from this area.

But this particular intersection is quite busy, especially at this hour where people are out, going out for lunch, for their lunch breaks; and it's a major intersection. There is a huge market just down the road as well. And it's -- if they wanted some maximum effect, perhaps, and this would have been a good choice for targets. Isha?

VAUSE: Okay, Kathy, if you could just stand by for a moment, because we have a Mia Kuzimyati (ps) who is a witness there in Jakarta. She joins us now on the line.

So, Mia, if you could just explain to us exactly what have you actually seen over the last I guess last hour or so. What has been happening in Jakarta from your point of view?

MIA KUZIMYATI, WITNESS, JAKARTA TERROR ATTACK: Um, yeah, actually, it was lunchtime. So I thought -- previously I thought it's only like a big -- then my office friend -

VAUSE: I think we have lost the line to Mia there, unfortunately, --

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: -- but she was about to explain that one of these blasts actually happened in front of her office block. So she is obviously in that part of the central Jakarta, which has been hit by what appears to be a very coordinated attack. Let's just go back to Kathy Quiano one more time now, because, Kathy, there are these reports of this crackdown which is being carried out over the last couple of weeks, and so Indonesia was very much on high [00:10:09] alert. A lot of people now want to know what is the connection with that police crackdown, with Islamic state, and maybe, possibly what has happened in Jakarta over the last hour?

QUIANO: That's right, John. The police and the military for the first time had joint operation. They want joint operations in December of January 2009. They went, they were trying to go after a network that was headed by this figure called Santoso. He's Indonesia's most wanted terrorist now. He claims to have the eastern Indonesian mujahedeen. He is based out of Central Sulawesi. So the center of operations were actually in that area, but they also combed through many areas of Central Java and North Java known to be stronghold as well for supporters of a radical networks in Indonesia.

In Bandun, West Java, as an example, there was a small Molotov attack as well on New Year's Eve. They had reportedly also arrested the three people that were behind that, but again, these seem to be very low level, low intensity attacks and there was the consensus that a major attack was not possible now with the capability of the terror cells that are here in Indonesia. Of course that may be changing.

We know that several, a few hundred of Indonesians have traveled to Syria. A few of them have come back as well. The police are monitoring these people. The fear that many here, including the police, government officials and terror analysts have been saying is that it's important to watch all these people who have come back here from Syria in what they may be capable of doing. John?

VAUSE: Okay, Kathy Quiano there, on the line, with the very latest from Jakarta. Just to recap what we know at this point, police are saying that there were a number of multiple explosions really caused by grenades. This all happening downtown Jakarta, outside a Starbucks cafe, a shopping mall, not far from a police station; there was heavy exchange of gunfire; police saying at least four people have been killed, one police officer and three civilians; but there is a very high probability that those three civilians who are dead were in fact the attackers, but that is yet to be confirmed at this point.

We should also note that Australia's ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, reporting that the U.N. building is in lockdown at this point in time. And, as Kathy was telling us, the police there in Indonesia have told her that the hunt is now on for a fourth suspect who is believed to have fled the scene and is believed to be heavily armed.

SESAY: Yes, indeed; so that continues to be the situation there following, as we're being told, an individual. This is a situation, of course, we will continue to follow for you. The situation that had been reported that there was heavy gunfire still ongoing. Kathy saying that that does not appear to be the case right now, but of course this is still a very fluid situation there in Jakarta.

Kathy also making the important point that today there was a sense that the threat posed by terrorism was somewhat low after successes against them, a number of Islamist groups operating there in the country, but that may be changing. We're of course going to follow the situation very closely for you, what is playing out there in Jakarta, Indonesia and we'll bring you more details as they come in to us.

We're going to shift gears now and look at the state of the financial markets in the Asia-Pacific region, because they are having another dismal day, so we want to bring that to you, especially in Tokyo. Let's run through the numbers very quickly for you.

As you see, the Nikkei there down over 3 1/2-percent, not looking pretty. We look at the Hong Kong/Hang Seng, also down over 1 1/2- percent. Shanghai Composite down just over 1-percent. And, also, we look at Australia S&P, ASK, also in negative territory. It is not good at all.

VAUSE: Slumping oil prices sent U.S. markets plunging. The Dow well 364 points on Wednesday, closing at 16,151. The NASDAQ was done nearly 3 1/2-percent. The S&P 500 lost 2 1/2-percent.

SESAY: All right, let's bring in CNN's Asia-Pacific Editor Andrew Stevens. He joins us now, live from Hong Kong. Andrew, looking at those numbers, the major Asian markets are not a pretty sight following that massive sell-off on Wall Street. Give us some perspective on the numbers.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically, it is following the Wall Street sell-off; big, big sell-off. Wall Street now down 7- percent to 8-percent, since the start of the year, which gives you an idea of how miserable it is for investors, not just in the U.S. but obviously here in Asia as well.

Isha, unusual to see red across the board in Asia where Shanghai is not the biggest faller. Shanghai is actually quite a modest fall today in comparison, but still, it really is about oil at [00:15:15] the moment. We saw oil flirting with $30 a barrel. Here in Asian trade it's gone down to $29.76, at its low point. So there is still a lot of downward pressure on oil and that's hurting the markets, as you can see.

Also, the ongoing concerns about what is going on in China, as far as the strength of the economy there; the weakening Yuan, as well, the currency in China, which all adds into this sort of cauldron of concern. The wall of worry, as they call it, not just in Asia, but globally, about where the global economy is headed and as a result, where stocks are going. There is not a lot of interest in buying at the moment, particularly here in Asia, so this one, they're saying could continue for some time to come. Isha?

SESAY: Andrew Stevens with some context there, with those numbers. Andrew, always appreciate it. Thank you.

STEVENS: Thanks, Isha.

VAUSE: Let's have some good financial news right now there. There is at least one new billionaire in the United States winning combination in the $1.6 billion Powerball lottery, picked about an hour ago, and it matches at least one ticket in California, but it's in Chino Hills.

SESAY: And 12 other tickets matched five of the six numbers, making them $1 million winners, that's not so bad, but we're still waiting to hear from more states.

VAUSE: Okay, let's look at the winning numbers, by the way. Get your tickets out because, actually, people all around the world were entering in this. About 100,000 people in Australia bought tickets. So the number 8, 27, 34, 4, 19, and 10. In the final hour, sales $100 million worth of tickets were sold to everyone who had a dream that now doesn't.

SESAY: Did you buy a ticket?

VAUSE: Yes.

SESAY: How many tickets did you buy?

VAUSE: Many, and I probably didn't win.

SESAY: I know you didn't win because you're still sitting here.

VAUSE: I know. Anyway, and I will still be here after the break because when we come back, ten American sailors are now freed but video on Iranian TV has aired, and it's raising questions about their release; the details coming up.

SESAY: Indeed, plus, investigators are reportedly looking into the idea that an American found dead in her apartment may have been killed during a sex game. More on that story later this hour; do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ("WORLD SPORT" HEADLINES)

[00:21:14] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. We have more on our breaking news out of Jakarta, Indonesia where police say at least four people are dead, including one policeman, after a series of explosions in the city center. Media reports say a number of explosions have been heard throughout the city.

SESAY: CNN Indonesia says the police station appears to be one of the targets. We also have reports that officers exchanged gunfire with suspects, and that at least one gunman has fled the scene.

Jeremy Douglas is with the United Nations in Jakarta. He joins us on the line. So, Jeremy, clearly, your office is not far from where all of this happened. Tell us, what did you hear, I guess, and what have you seen over the last hour or so?

JEREMY DOUGLAS, UNITED NATIONS WORKER: Sure. Actually, I was in the car when it first happened and we got a call, our driver got a call from our security asking where we were. They said a bomb had gone off in front of the building, but we were actually luckily pulling into the back of the building. We pulled up, and got out of the car there is a little bit of chaos, because people weren't quite sure what was going on; and then a second bomb went off as we were getting out of the car and we basically rushed into the building. Then a third bomb went off. We went up to our office on the 10th floor, and now we're in lockdown on the tenth floor in our office building. Then a fourth, and a fifth and a sixth bomb went off. Then we heard small arms fire in the street in front of the building.

VAUSE: And Jeremy, I understand there is an internal note there from the U.N. saying at least one U.N. employee has been injured?

DOUGLAS: Yeah, we're not -- there is a lot of information flying around and I don't -- I'm not privy to that but we've got -- one of my U.N. colleagues is rushing to find out what has happened and see if - see what needs to be done, but it's - so I can't confirm that at this time.

VAUSE: Okay.

SESAY: So, Jeremy, just walk us through what your senses of the situation at the scene now, in terms of police response, in terms of just, you know, the situation on the ground right now.

VAUSE: Sure, sure. There is a massive -- I'm looking out the window right now at a couple of armored personnel carriers and tactical teams, which are - which cornered off the area where the explosion happen. and at least what we're told there is a gunman who is holed up in a small shopping arcade across the street shopping mall, where -- so they're keeping the corner locked down. So I can see probably about 40 police, tactical or SWAT team type police right now.

VAUSE: So Jeremy, paint a picture for us of this area of Jakarta. I've been to Jakarta a few times.

DOUGLAS: Sure.

VAUSE: If I'm not mistaken, this is sort of an up-market area of Jakarta. We understand that the U.N. is there. A number of embassies are not far away. There are luxury hotels as well. We know there was a Starbucks which appears to have been, you know, at least maybe targeted in this. I guess we don't know, but it was certainly damaged by the blast.

DOUGLAS: Yeah, that's exactly right. You couldn't get much more central in Jakarta if you tried. It's basically right smack-dab in the central business area. So you've got major international hotel chains all over the place and you've got the U.N., the Japanese Embassy is down the street. So there is a big diplomatic -- there is a big business community right here. So if you wanted to make an impact, you wanted to get visibility for what you are trying to do, this is the place to do it.

In fact, that's why I came down -- I'm based in Bangkok. I thought I would come down to talk to a couple of -- we're assisting the government on counterterrorism and transnational crime issues; just happens to be interesting timing.

SESAY: Jeremy, when was the last time you heard an exchange of gunfire?

DOUGLAS: About 20 minutes ago, maybe 25 now. So it's gone quiet, but it's -- yeah, maybe 20, 25 minutes. [00:25:32] SESAY: And you say that you're helping -- you mentioned

having some focus on the issue of terrorism and the threats posed regionally, if I understood you correctly. What was your assessment of the threat posed by terrorism to Indonesia at this point in time?

DOUGLAS: Oh, Indonesia for many years has a background from al Qaeda or groups, affiliated groups here. We all know about the Bali bombing that happened many years ago. More recently they've had a number of groups pledge allegiance to ISIS. They've also got, at the moment it's hard to pin down the numbers, but give or take 500 Indonesians have gone to Syria. So there is a great concern here about returning foreign fighters, which is one of the things we're talking to the government about is how to deal with the foreign fighters phenomenon here in Indonesia, but also regionally because we have the same problem in southern Philippines and in Malaysia.

VAUSE: Jeremy, I don't know if you can answer this. So please let me know if this is something you can touch on or not but I'm just looking at some reports coming from the region, this one coming from Fairfax, the Fairfax News Reporter from Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, "Up To Six Alleged Attackers Are Still Believed to Be Hiding in the Skyline Building." That's the site of the Starbucks cafe. Is that something which you can talk more to? And also, there is another report saying police are saying that this attack is linked to ISIS, the Islamic state. Is there anything there which you can confirm for us?

DOUGLAS: I can tell you I've heard the same thing but I can't really say much more detail than that. We'll be talking to the police later today, probably, to find out what is really going on but at this point at this moment that's all we can say is what we're hearing. We understand young men, possibly plural have gone into this area right across from the Starbucks, but as you say, this is ISIS inspired, not surprising if that's the case because it can happen. You've got, as I said, 500 Indonesians possibly that have been training in Syria and they've come back with new ideas possibly.

VAUSE: And, sorry, Jeremy, just to clarify, when you say you have heard have, have you heard from the police that this could be linked to ISIS, or is this just this is what people are saying?

DOUGLAS: This is what people are saying to us.

VAUSE: Right.

DOUGLAS: We do have some internal U.N. Security feed, which is telling us that there are possible gunmen here. In terms of the connection to ISIS, I think it might take some time to establish that; but of groups start claiming it, credibly, I imagine quickly, because that's the kind of thing they do, we will know.

VAUSE: Jeremy Douglas on the line there from Jakarta. He is with the U.N. He had travelled to Jakarta from Bangkok and obviously giving us some details there about exactly what's been happening in Jakarta over the last hour or so, according to Jeremy, who is now in lockdown in the U.N. office on the tenth floor of a U.N. building. He heard six explosions and a number of gunmen are now holed up in

what is known as the Skyline Building, which is not far from the U.N. office where Jeremy is right now, and not far from that Starbucks cafe, which was appeared to be at least possibly the target by a number of attackers, possibly suicide bombers. At this point, that's yet to be confirmed.

SESAY: Yes, indeed. He said the last time you heard gunfire exchange was some 20, 25 minutes ago. The situation appears at this stage to be relatively calm. The area's, of course, cordoned off and of course there is a high security force presence there at the scene but very much so I would say a fluid situation. Something we don't know.

VAUSE: To say the least. Clearly the police and the authorities there are trying to get the situation under control. It does appear to be relatively calm, but there is word that a number of gunmen, maybe as many as six, are holed up in a building not far from where these explosions were heard.

We will continue to follow this breaking news. In the meantime, we'll take a short break; but of course, as soon as we get more information on thing situation in Jakarta, we will bring it to you. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. We're following breaking news in Jakarta, Indonesia where at least four people have been killed during a series of explosions. A police station was targeted in the attack, and the video has also shown an explosion outside a coffee shop. Police are now pursuing one known attacker who escaped the scene and is believed to be armed.

Joining us now to talk more about this is CNN Intelligence and Security Analyst, Bob Baer. Bob, always good to have you on, especially at a time like this. Speaking to people there in Indonesia, there is already speculation that this was the work of ISIS in some way, or at least ISIS inspired. This has not been confirmed by the authority, of course; but what do you make of what is playing out in Jakarta right now?

BOB BAER, CNN INTELLIGENCE & SECURITY ANALYST: Well, you know, coincidentally, I was talking to some people in Jihadi circles today and they said ISIS' plan is to sow chaos. Now this conversation occurred before these attacks. I can't connect them, but you simply have to look at the last week, the attacks at the mall in Baghdad and as well as Istanbul, the German tourists. So I think there is a campaign under way from the Islamic State, and this certainly has the signature of the Islamic State, and Jakarta is an obvious place. We're going have to wait to see what the police there say but it's starting to look like an Islamic State attack.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Bob, let's look at the mechanics of the attack. At least three or four people involved in the attack, three of them believed to be dead, possible suicide bombers; as now these reports that gunmen are holed up in a building not far from where the attacks took place. So this seems obviously a lot more than a lone wolf style attack. This is something which needed to be plan and carried out, needed to be armed. These guys had grenades, and it seems that they had automatic weapons as well. What does that tell you?

BAER: It sounds like ISIS. It sounds like the Paris attack to me. Coordinated; several teams; suicide bombers; apparently automatic weapons; they wanted to make a statement. A lone wolf doesn't quite do it. But multiple attacks, in places like Jakarta, will shake that country. You know, and it's true, as Jeremy was saying, a lot of these fighters are getting combat experience in Iraq and Syria. They're coming home and they know what they're doing. Above all, they know how to work explosives. [00:35:32] It's not easy to do, to make them all go off. So I think we're seeing more blowback from these wars there.

VAUSE: Sorry. I was just going to ask the difference there. You said it looks like Paris, but in Paris there's a 130 people dead. Right now it appears there's one policeman dead and most of the attackers or some of the attackers have been killed. So at this point is it possible to know how this was different in Jakarta to Paris? Were the police just ready for it? Were they on high alert, as they said, after arresting a number of people linked to ISIS and foiling a number of plots to attack foreigners as well as government officials?

BAER: Well, this isn't a completely trained, well-trained army that could carry out an attack anywhere. I mean it's, from their perspective, it's a matter of luck, how much damage they do. The Indonesian police are very good. They're ready for this sort of thing. There have certainly been rumors about attacks coming. So, you know, maybe a couple of people, but it's the intent of the Islamic State to sow chaos, which is the most important thing; and how much damage they actually do, you know, depends on the teams.

SESAY: Bob, you talked about the capacity of the Indonesian security forces. Looking at the choices of targets here, a coffee shop, police station, this taking place in an area that has malls, the U.N. building close by, it does, of course, still beg the question about security protocols, security measures that were in place and preparedness on the part of the government.

BAER: Well, there's not much you can do about a Starbucks. You know, you can't really protect those and it's the American brand that is important. Assuming this target wasn't just haphazard, and also police stations, going after uniformed people is very important for the Islamic State. Again, I don't know this was an Islamic State attack, but it may very well have been.

VAUSE: We're hearing from Reuters, they're quoting local media reports, saying at least 14 militant gunmen may have been involved in this attack. That is a lot of gunmen, a lot of people to be involved in an attack like that. It just seems to be one up from Paris.

BAER: It is. That's why I say it's like Paris. When you get this many people, essentially an army, being able to move silently into a country, to be able to handle weapons and explosives, again, this is way beyond a lone wolf attack like the ones we've seen in the United States.

SESAY: Bob, you mentioned, you said this number of people moving into the country silently. I mean, surely, there must have been something that could have been detected on -- by intelligence or am I wrong in saying that?

BAER: No, no, I think absolutely, but the problem is a lot of these, you know, like Telegram, it's an app that you can communicate on, or WhatsApp, all these things, but you don't really see this stuff and put it together until after the attack occurs. A lot of these people could be traveling in alias, or they simply weren't on a wanted list and there is a lot of way to get across borders in that part of the world.

The Islamic State and their operatives are getting better. They understand us. They understand computers. They understand metadata. They understand our weaknesses. That's why they're sending people - they're hiding among the refugees in Europe. They understand that those are sort of areas that the police can't truly monitor very closely. They know where to find our weaknesses, and of course there is more weaknesses in Europe and places like Indonesia, than the United States, if for no other reason than we have the Atlantic Ocean between us. But, you know, still they are getting better.

VAUSE: Bob, the Indonesian military and the Indonesian police have a reputation for, I guess, at least in the past, for being quite brutal in their crackdowns and in their responses. So I know that we're just a few hours into this but exactly what will play out over the next couple days, as far as the Indonesian authorities and the military and the police are concerned?

BAER: Well, there'll be more of a crackdown for sure. I mean, they're very well-trained, very capable, and they'll go after these groups. They'll start rounding the usual suspects up, but you have to remember that Indonesia is a Sunni country, and there is a great sympathy for Sunni Muslims in Iraq and Syria. They watch television. They watch what is happening there. They don't agree with the bombing of these places. They may not particularly like the Islamic State, but there is a sympathy among a lot of Sunni countries for what is happening to the Orthodox Sunnis; it's just a fact. This is how the Islamic State finds adherents. They draw on this sympathy and they paint this as an existential conflict or apocalyptic, if you like, and they're able to recruit people all around the world.

SESAY: Well, Bob, it is great to have had you with us at this time to give us some vital insight and perspective on what is playing out right now in Jakarta. We very much appreciate it. [00:40:17] Do stand by with us as we get more details; we may well ask you to join us again to give us some more perspective.

Bob Baer there, CNN Security and Intelligence Analyst. Very interesting what he is saying there, that it looks, it smells like ISIS you know and ultimately, this is a region where they're growing; they're growing quite strongly and fast.

VAUSE: It may look like ISIS and it could very well be ISIS, and there are a number of reports out there that is linked to ISIS in some way -

SESAY: Not confirmed.

VAUSE: -- but at this point there is no official claim of responsibility and no official in Indonesia has come out to actually say publicly that they believe this is linked to ISIS. But, but as Bob pointed out, it does have the hallmarks of an attack very similar to the one which was carried out in Paris in December, which left 130 people dead. This time the death toll appears to be standing at four, one policeman and three possible attackers; but it is an ongoing situation.

In the Skyline Building, which, oddly enough, was a building that the CNN Jakarta Bureau was in for many, many years, up until a few years ago, there are gunmen holed up inside that building right now. This is an area where, if you heard from Jeremy Douglas, with the U.N., which is very up-market. It's filled with luxury hotels, as well as embassies, high scale shopping malls, that kind of thing. So clearly this was the target which was picked.

SESAY: And that is going to lead to a lot of questions, the fact that this area was targeted and what security measures were in place and how they were able to breach that security. Many questions to be answered, this is a very fluid situation. We're going to take a very quick break. We will take you live to Indonesia on the other side; do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. If you're just joining us, there is breaking news out of Jakarta, Indonesia, where a series of explosions in the city center has left at least four people dead, including one police officer.

SESAY: A police spokesman says the attackers used grenades as they targeted a police station in the capital. A gunfight broke [00:45:53] out between officers and the attackers and police say they're pursuing at least one armed suspect who escaped from the scene.

VAUSE: CNN's Kathy Quiano joins us with more breaking news from the scene. So, Kathy, I understand there was some situation outside the building, the Skyline Building, not far from where the attack happened. A gunman or gunmen was holed up inside there? What is happening there now? Police are moving in?

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, hi. I'm just right across from the Skyline Building. I've been in this spot about ten minutes. Earlier I saw dozens of heavily armed policemen entering the building. Obviously police are keeping us away from it while we're huddled at the side of a building across it but we did see, and I did see dozens of heavily armed policemen entering the building. I also heard at least two low grade explosions on the street. I don't know what that means. We've seen some anti-bomb units walking down the main road. We can't see very much, and we can't really move as well, but from what I'm seeing, they are -- and from I've heard, they are in pursuit of an armed suspect, who was believed to have fled into the Skyline Building.

I'm quite familiar with this building, because, as you mentioned earlier, the CNN Bureau was here for many years. There is an entrance, there's a private -- it's a public entrance that goes through the back of the building and it goes through the hotel next door. It also exits into a street parallel to the main road. So, you know, it's possible that whoever goes to this entrance may have escaped through the street just beside it. But we, from what I'm seeing so far, I think police believe that the armed suspect may still be in this area and that's why we're seeing very heavy security and heavily armed men in the area.

SESAY: Kathy?

QUIANO: Yes.

SESAY: Kathy, you may not be able to answer this question, but let me ask you, do you know whether authorities were able to evacuate the building ahead of going in? Do you know the situation?

QUIANO: I cannot confirm that. I know that all of the stores and restaurants and commercial establishments around the area are now closed and are locked down. We don't see many civilians or any people who are standing around here. I believe that many of them have left the area. I'm not sure if there are people still inside the building or the commercial establishment right behind it. Isha?

SESAY: Kathy, Indonesia has been on something of a high alert in recent weeks with concerns of possible attacks. With that being said, what was the security posture there in the capital? Have we seen an increase in security measures, a security presence there in upscale areas, such as this one that was attacked today?

QUIANO: Certainly there was heightened security during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Places of worship, commercial areas were heavily guarded then. We knew that there was a pursuit on a terror network, but that was in the base was in the Central Sulawesi and the center and the focus of the operations were outside of Jakarta. But Jakarta is actually quite heavily secured. This is as a result of several major attacks here in the past ten years. We know that the (Inaudible) Embassy was attacked here in 2004. The Marriott Hotel was attacked twice. So, you know, there is usually heavy security anyway. People, you have to -- you have scanners at the entrances of the commercial -- of the hotels, the commercial establishments and the malls. So there is a heightened awareness of a possible attack happening again here. Isha?

VAUSE: And Kathy, just very quickly, the situation in the rest of the capital right now, I know you are sort of down at the scene but what is happening, do you know, away from this area right now, because there are reports that there have been possible other blasts being reported, that kind of thing?

QUIANO: Well, just you know, from coming down here, I came here on a motor bike. It's the fastest way to get to the area, but you could certainly feel that people were on the edge. People were talking about it. People were scared, and I'm sure that they are taking extra precautions, you know. I hear people, you know, parents, for example, worrying about their kids in schools, [00:50:22] do they bring them home. Do they stay put where they are or do they head home and stay there? So what I can confirm is that, yes, there is now a very -- it's a city here that is certainly on the edge. John?

VAUSE: Absolutely. Kathy, thank you. Kathy Quiano giving us the very latest from Jakarta. Police moving into a building where at least one gunman is holed up, possibly more; we'll continue to follow this story out of Jakarta. In the meantime, a short break; we'll be back in a moment.

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VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody; more on our breaking news in Jakarta, Indonesia. A series of explosions in the city's center has left at least four people dead, including one police officer.

SESAY: CNN Indonesia reports that a police station appears to have been the target. Police say a number of grenades were used in that attack. They say they're pursuing at least one attacker who escaped from the scene and is probably armed.

VAUSE: So far no claims of responsibility and police have not named any suspects; the country, though, on high alert in recent weeks. Police and the military have been going after the East Indonesian mujahedeen, which has pledged support for ISIS.

[00:55:28] Kathy Quiano once again on the line from Jakarta. Kathy, very quickly, the Reuters News Agency reporting another explosion heard a short time ago. Can you confirm that for us? Have you heard anything?

QUIANO: No, I cannot confirm that. Now, right now, as I mentioned earlier, I'm huddled by the side of the building, in front of the Skyline Building, where police are surrounding it, where the armed suspect is believed to have entered, John. So we're not getting that information as of now.

VAUSE: Okay, and just to clarify, the Skyline Building is a high-rise building. It's about 25 floors. It's where the CNN Bureau used to be?

QUIANO: Yes, that's right. We -- we -- this building has commercial establishments on the ground floor. It's quite public. People can go in and out very easily. There is an entrance that goes through at the back of it, and then also exits to a hotel next door and to a street just behind the building. So it's possible that the suspect, if he did go through here, may have escaped but it seems like police have surrounded the building. They're inside. They're on the side as well, in front of it.

VAUSE: Okay.

QUIANO: From what I see, they're still going after the suspect. John? VAUSE: Kathy, we'll leave there it; we appreciate you being with us throughout the hour.

SESAY: Much more on this story after the break. Do stay with us. You're watching CNN.

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