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Indonesia Police: ISIS Leader Masterminded Jakarta Attacks

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Indonesian police say the terror attacks on downtown Jakarta were masterminded by an ISIS leader from Syria.

Now three men with possible links to the attack have been arrested as police search for more jihadis.

The violence erupted at midday Thursday, with at least six explosions going off in the area. Five men armed with bombs, guns and suicide belts attacked a Starbucks cafe and traffic police in the city's main shopping district.

"We heard a third explosion," eyewitness Jeremy Douglas recalled. "We heard a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and there's gunfire."

Attackers engaged in a gunfight with police, and people working in the area barricaded themselves in their offices. Two people were killed -- a Canadian citizen and an Indonesian.

All of the attackers were killed either by their suicide vests or by law enforcement.

Police found a flag of the Islamic State group in one attacker's home. They said the attackers imitated the terror actions in Paris, which killed 130 people.

Indonesian authorities say the attack shows the emerging threat from ISIS in their country.

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About The Author

Charlene Aaron
Charlene
Aaron

Charlene Aaron serves as a general assignment reporter, news anchor, co-host of The 700 Club, co-host of 700 Club Interactive, and co-host of The Prayerlink on the CBN News Channel. She covers various social issues, such as abortion, gender identity, race relations, and more. Before joining CBN News in 2003, she was a personal letter writer for Dr. Pat Robertson. Charlene attended Old Dominion University and Elizabeth City State University. She is an ordained minister and pastor’s wife. She lives in Smithfield, VA, with her husband.