NZer killed in Jakarta bomb blast named

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Bombs at two luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital have killed nine people including a New Zealander.

Indonesia's security minister confirmed a New Zealander was among the dead and said a further 50 people were wounded in hotel blasts in downtown Jakarta.

Reuters named the Kiwi killed as Timothy David Mackay, president director of PT Holcim Indonesia.

Mr MacKay was the president director of PT Holcim Indonesia since 2004, the company's marketing director Patrick Walser said.

He was a master mariner and held an MBA from Massey University. He was previously in Holcim in Sri Lanka.

The Indonesian security minister confirmed a New Zealander was among those killed. Thirteen other foreigners were among injured in the blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lucy Taylor in Wellington earlier said the ministry is aware of the media reports and are working to verify them.

She said Ministerial staff are in close contact with New Zealand
consular staff in Jakarta.

South Jakarta police Colonel Firman Bundi says the bodies of the deceased have been taken to a hospital.

Read eyewitness report from a Kiwi in Jakarta

The facade of the Ritz-Carlton hotel was blown off in one of the blasts Friday morning. Another explosion hit the neighbouring Marriott hotel.

Debris and shattered glass littered the street outside the neighbouring hotels in an upscale Jakarta neighbourhood. Ambulances were being shuttled into the area.

"Some windows of the Ritz-Carlton building have been shattered, mostly on the lower section. I'm looking at it from my office," said Myra Junor, who works at a nearby building.

Lydia Ruddy, a witness who lives in the area, told Reuters she could see debris everywhere.

She said she heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from the Marriott, followed five minutes later by another explosion at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, which is in the same area.

An Australian man told local Radio 2UE his son had been hurt at the Marriott and was being taken to hospital.

A man jogging by the hotels said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.

Col. Firman Bundi said: "There were explosions heard from two separate places, one the JW Marriott, the other in the Ritz Carlton.

"We are still trying to check because right now we are still helping the victims," he said.

Alex Asmasubrata said he saw four bodies inside the Marriott. One had its stomach blown out. An Associated Press reporter saw three injured taken away from the Ritz.