Exactly if that was the case today. But what we have seen is that the people who died, that there was a Police Officer definitely involved and what we hear in eyewitnesses that they were really definitely immediately targeting officers. Step there is an alert that crossed just as you were speaking this is coming straight from the spokesperson from the Jakarta Police department say seven people have been killed in the attacks downtown. That includes four attackers. So that is the latest that we know. At least seven People Killed. Four attackers killed and i suppose we believe thats included in the People Killed that would be at least the one Police Officer that we are aware of as well. So that is the latest reporting, that is the latest we are getting straight from the Jakarta Police spokesperson. Now, thats four attack thats have been killed. To be clear, we dont know the total number of attackers. So as far as we know, this is still an ongoing situation, step, but thats the latest that we can report right now. Reporter yes go right ahead. Reporter that confirms that there was a lot of gun fighting after the first explosion that his we heard. There was a lot of gun fights going on. And there were reports earlier that police had detained a few of the attackers but now the police is confirm that go they actually killed those attackers. That has happened during these gun fights that happened very shortly after this first large explosion was heard. There must be hundreds of police right now, Antiterror Police in the area and trying to find everyone involved in the attack this morning. As you say, we dont know exactly how many people were involved. The police was initially saying 10 to 15 people were involved in this attack. All right. Step, lets get some more information here. Richard martin has a report on what else we know so far. Reporter the explosions tore through jakartas downtown area, at least six separate explosions and then gunfire. A multipronged attack. Close to the office of the United Nations. As you can see in the video there are bodies. Three bodies at least. And we can also see that one of the them is clearly the perpetrated the other has exploded himself the and the other shot. Last year we had a lot of warning from our police and Security Office that there is probably a planned attack. Reporter Indonesian Television has released these pictures of a man they say is a suspect. Hes carrying a gun. One bomb is known to have gone off near a starbucks cafe and the police post was destroyed in one of the blasts. The attacks were concentrated around a busy thoroughfare in Central Jakarta which is close to the u. N. Offices and the president ial palace. The traffic and people which normally clog these streets are gone. Replaced with heavilyarmed Security Forces, including Armored Vehicles which have been deployed across the city. Indonesia has been conducting operation to his crack down on people with suspected links to islamic state. Indonesias president has cut short a visit to singapore to oversee the operation. Richard martin, al jazeera. Agreeing feely is an indonesia expert and head of department of political and social change at Australian National university. He joins us via describe. Greg being i assume you know this area well. Describe it for me. I know this area very well because its usually the area that i stay in during my many visit to jakarta. Indeed its an area that would be known to most visitors to jakarta. Certainly foreign visitors. So the bomb, one of the bombs or the grenades went off at a Police Station in front of serena Department Store which is a very famous Department Store for tourists. It was also die nag knowledgely opposite of a starbucks cafe. There is also an explosion seemingly in that cafe. And thats also a very popular haunt for not only upper middle class jakarr tans but also expats. It lets some of the most important buildings and offices and hotelsal its a large and ill let year. We are getting reports that the latest information says at least seven people are dead. Four of them being attackers. At least one being a Police Officer. And we assume the rest being civilians. In this area that you describe that is a very popular area, Something Like this happening in an area like this is something that would be impact. That would get the worlds attention. Knowing what you know about indonesia, what are the possibilities about this. Terrorists usually try to strike fear and dread in to the communities that they are targeting. And so judging by the very early reporting that we have of this series after at, it would seem to be working on multiple levels. On the one hand the attackers are striking at the Indonesian Police and the police have been the main victims of jihadist attacks over the last six years, several dozen police have died in those attacks, they have taken various forms but usually shootings, sometimes why the police . Because that there has been open conflict between them and the police since 2009 hotel and ritz carlton bombing in jakarta. Immediately following the bombing there were a number of prominent terrorists who were shot dead by the police. And then there were reprisal attacks launched by jihadists. So it became something of a mini war, particularly between the Counter Terrorism police. And the most militant of the jihadist groups of the thats continue until today. And the fact that there was a police post, a traffic post that was bombeddal. I think that sounds quite symbolic, but also the attackers have gone after starbucks, an international americabased chain and that probably also carries some symbolism with it as well. This is targeting the west. How do you think that the Police Officer force and the, the country will respond to Something Like this, to this type after tack . The police have already said they believe this is an isis inspired if not an isis directed tack in indonesia. If thats true it will be the first attack that has been successful attack thats been undertaken in the name of isis. But we are waiting for confirmation of that. There has already been very high public disapproval. Public revulsion of isis, there is a very Strong Community resistance to isis, the government has formally banned isis it did so in august of last year. That hasnt today had a great everything. But one could imagine that there will be much Greater Public outcry about this. And far stronger condemnation of isis than we are seeing everybody today. And so i think that will create a far more hostile environment for the terrorist to work in if they are planning future operations which i am sure they will be. As someone who travel to his this area a lot. You said you have been to this specific spot many times, is this something that will be in the back of your mind or is it something that quite frankly you just keep moving forward because other people and nba other cities have . Thats very much my attitude. In fact, i go to jakarta next week. And i will be staying at a hotel thats closest to this attacks start. And i have no plans to change my movements because i think unfortunately, we have to regard terrorism as a fact of life. A fact of life that often has very tragic consequences for the victims of these attacks. But if we stop going about our normal activities that becomes a victory for the terrorists. I have studied terrorism for many years, i am aware of the risks and i choose to make the decision that i continue to travel to indonesia on a regular basis and to go about the work that i would normally do. I could understand other people having a different view. But my own view is that if people feel able to, they should continue in a normal way. Much as we are seeing in paris and london and madrid and other cities that have gone through these horrific types of attacks. Greg feely. Thank you very much for your insight on end niche a i appreciate it very much. Lets return back to our step vaessen who has been doing really thorough report on the ground this breaking news that has been going for an hour i lost track of time. About two hours now out of jakarta. The late they have we had a moment ago was that there were at least seven days this, coming to us from the spokesperson for Jakarta Police, at least seven dead, four being attackers. One being a Police Officer. We assume the rest being being a sill being civilians, thats the latest that you have. The late zest that the head of the Jakarta Police is now giving a press statement at the location, so hopefully well get more details very soon now. So far its still the same information its seven dead and four of them were the attackers. Which apparently happened during a very fierce gun fight after the first are explosions were being heard. And i just want to reflect on a point that greg feely just made, a very interesting point because just a few days later, on sunday, this weekend it would be a very big march here in jakarta. For the moderate Islamic Movement to say in indonesia, the largest Muslim Organization in indonesia was going to organize a big march basically protesting against extremism and more specifically against isil. They have started a very nationwide but also i wan International Campaign against isil and has said that islam should be defended in a very different way. That islam is not a violent religion and the name of this Large Organization has been coming forward after many years of relative silence i have to say they now have come forward and have made a documentary. That they wanted to show armed the world to show their version of islam and they want to make a fist basically against extreme i. So its quite cynical to now have to conclude that just a few days before this long march was going to take place, this attack in jakarta has happened. All right. Step vaessen. Thank you for that, stay close its coming up on almost, almost 1 45 p. M. Local jakarta time. And the president of indonesia has, of course, condemned these attacks. He has also ordered his Security Force to his capture those involves and he has urged calm. And offered his deepest condolences to the victims he release i said a statement saying this. We cannot be afraid and cannot be defeated by this. So this is what we do know that six explosions have taken place in jakartas Central Business district in and around the United Nations offices that many run street. Gunmen have entered the jakarta theater. Police have secured the area. This is an ongoing operation. At least seven People Killed. Four of them being a the tackers. Also grenade was thrown at a Police Station as i said a Police Officer is among the dead. There have been explosions, gunfire all taking place and Security Forces are obviously involved in the ongoing operation, the area has been cordoned off. There are many buildings that are on lockdown. There is no indication of who is behind this attack. Andreas is the indonesian consultant for Human Rights Watch and joins us live via skype from jakarta. Please forgive me i havent talked to my producer, are you anywhere near where this is happening . I was about threekilometer as way when it happened, i was driving. Later i drive not to the location because it was blockaded by the police, but to the nearest intersection to location. What is your reaction to this to what is happening right now . I was listen to the radio, i listen today the radio [ inaudible ] and i see that the street of jakarta are disordered. Deserteddal its much, much quieter than the notorious jam in jakarta. It took me only maybe seven minutes to reach the area. So people are nerve us and trying to stay away from the street from, public spaces. And from some friends they also circulated a Police Notice to stay away from american outlets. Why . Because the bomb sites had not only starbucks but also burger king, pizza hut and, across the street is mcdonalds, we also have [ inaudible ] and it is only two blocks away from the u. S. Em bar embassy, only one bg afraiaway from the french embasd the u. N. So you can see a lot of american expats having cough any that particular spot. If you could just hold for a moment. I want to give viewers our latest information that has just come to us. That police say that there are a total of six suspects that they are dealing with, six, that in fact four of them have died. Which is something that we have reported. The new information, though, is that two of them have runway. So our understanding is that right now police are still trying to find two people that they believe are responsible for what has happened today and they have killed four of these suspects. So the reporting that we have been having this morning is that it seems that police have been targeted in this situation. What are all ware of about the situation between police and these groups . Of course like greg feely says, there is an ongoing operation against these jihaddist. In indonesia its the police in charge of dealing with this terrorism. And of course, scores of them were killed by the police, shot to death. And vice versa, they also attack a Police Station, they also blew up a mosque inside the Police Station a few years ago. It is not surprise that go they also target the police. What concerns you with Something Like this happening, what concerns you about jakarta, about indonesia Going Forward now . What would concern me is if people are scared. If people do fear about this bombing, this is not a fair comparison, but more than 1,000 died because of motorcycle accidents all over i want niche arc mostly . Jakarta, so six, of course, it is a major concern that they died in this attack, but the number it is a fact of life. It is smaller. Much smaller than traffic accident. It is much smaller than, again not fair, malaria or lung cancer because of speaking. I want niche ans love smoking so much. So we have to move forward from this because its something that we have to realize that if we stop our activity, if we try too to avoid making conferences or shopping, we are indicator to go what the terrorists want. Have you seen do you feel that you have seen that happen in other places . Oh, yeah. What worries me is that the government, especially the previous president [ inaudible ] in order to overcome the rise of islamists in indonesia. The rise of violence in the name of islam, he narrowed the spaces for the religious minorities in indonesia. For instance, in building houses [ inaudible ] especially its going to be very, very difficult. Over the last 10 years under the previous president more than 1,000 churches have already been closed. And womens rights is also declining. Now 1 5 of indonesian an women [ inaudible ] the though wear te hijab. I think its fare on the government side. Fear this they dont cater to this conservative i says lambism. Then we will pay the price for that. It is our freedom. So you are concerned about fear, freedom and discrimination quite frankly . It is. Because in the name of this violence, in the name of trying to apiece these jihadists, the government, many governments, Police Officer included say police dont do these activities, dont do these [ inaudible ] or dont are he please dont do this for the muslims last year. This is a creeping fear among many government officials and also the public in general that in a bid to of course we are going to use Law Enforcement againsagainst terrorists but the government narrows the spaces for religious minorities and mid women. That remains to be seem and a future discussion. The muslim media discussion is the police trying to find these last two suspects. Absolutely. Andreas with Human Rights Watch thank you so much for the discussion. Lets get back to step vaessen for the latest reporting. Step, i the latest that we just had just a moment ago is that police say as far as they know there are six suspects, four of which have been killed, two of which they are still looking for. What is the latest that you have . Reporter yes, exactly. I can confirm that information. Six attackers accord to this police now and four of them have been killed. Early earth police were talking about a larger group. They were taking about 10 to 15 suspects on motorcycle bikes coming in with long rifles in to the central heart of jakarta and started to shoot. First at the police but also randomly shooting at other people. There are several wounded as well. So far we know seven are wound the as well there are also a few foreigners involved. They have become victims, one of them is a dutchman who works for the United Nations who was also among the victims. The situation is still ongoing as you said two people are still on the run, they parent already are on motorcycle motorcycles tt way from that situation. The police at full force here in the center of jakarta with tanks, with all kind of equipment trying to secure the situation. The intelligence chief has Just Announced that the serena Shopping Center is all safe now. There is nobody hiding in there. So they have sterilized this whole Shopping Center which is one of the oldest in jakarta. Its very fame us monitor assists, for example, to by souvenirs there. We havent heard about the feet, which is on the opposite side of the street. I think the police might be, woulding on building its a huge building with a lot of cafes and a lot of the cinema in there. So its a big building that they are trying to secure right now. The victims that were at the police post, a very small police post, at the intersection hear in the center of jakarr torque they are evacuating the victims. They said early attempts to evacuate the victims failed because there was still shooti shooting. A lot of video its clear its really dramatic video that you can see the Police Operation strikingly close quiet frankly, you can see police using cars as cover. You can see Police Taking cover. And its really interesting how close some of the crowds are, but this is still very much an active scene. I understand that you are saying that they are clearing buildings, but it wouldnt surprise me if people werent quite ready to step in no those buildings. This is come up on just about almost 2 00 in the afternoon until jakarta in an area of town that would be he can stripely busy anextremelybusy but its ne on lock down the police say they have killed four attackers but they are still looking for two r the violence that took place over the last two and a half howard in the city of jakarta. There was also video that has since been playing repeatedly on local media of a man, somebody in white, that Police Believe is one of the suspects. Now, we dont actually know if this is someone that has already been killed or someone they are still looping for. But obviously this is video that police will study very, very quicclosely to see the role this person played in the violence that played out this morning, that is what we know. This all happening in an extremely busy section of the jakarta this morning that had it been later it would have been busier there were still quite a few people out near this star burks businesses, near the president ial palace, near the United Nations in fact step has been putting in this good perspective for us this morning, that jakarta has been quite safe for quite sometime. But the police are still trying to get a handle on this situation as we speak and they will be for quite sometime. Step, if you can remind us again what the president of indonesia has had to say about in this morning. Reporter yeah, he, the president immediately has called everyone to stay calm. And also not to succumb to the situation. Not to withdraw. We have to go after the attackers that is what he told the indonesian public and also go after their organization. But he didnt mention any names of any organization involved. That is still being investigated by the police. Of course this is a situation where the police probably have lots of evidence because its an intersection where a lot of cameras are available. A lot of video footage already thats coming out. Reporter it will be a situation where the police will have a lot of evidence of Video Evidence that they can use to go through this case and pinpoint all those involved and the suspect that also are still on the run. Okay. And to be clear, while we have discussed some of the groups that could possibly be responsible i believe for in this morning, lets make it clear that no one has claimed responsibility this morning. Police have not said who is responsible ill, they have said that police have been under threat before. Threats have been made against them. And we have spoken to people this morning, businessmen in the area who have been toll to step up security. Having said that you cant necessarily stop he everything all the time. And as a result this is what we have this morning. We know at least seven people are dead this morning, four of them attackers. One Police Officer, the rest civilians, well continue to for him this situation in jakarta. A series of explosions in the end niche an capital. At least seven people are killed. Did you hear any explosions . Yes, i heard them. How many times in. Three times. Video emerges of what appears to be one of the gunmen involved in the attack. And two may be still on the run. The indonesian president cuts a trip to java short to return home and orders police to find those behind the attacks. Hello. You are watching al jazeera live from doug