DHAKA: At least seven people have been killed in a series of explosions in central Jakarta, Indonesia’s police told Al Jazeera, as gunfire rang out of the capital’s downtown area.

An unknown number of people were injured in the ongoing security operations at the Sarinah area near the presidential palace in the centre of Jakarta.

At least four of the gunmen were among the dead and at least one policeman was killed, police told Al Jazeera. All six blasts occurred in the central business district, about 50 meters apart.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from Jakarta, said a police post was destroyed in a grenade blast and that a gun battle was ongoing in the downtown area of the capital.

‘About 10 to 15 gunmen on motorbikes entered the downtown area carrying long rifles, shooting into the crowd, with some carrying explosives’ Vaessen said.

Several gunmen on two motorbikes reportedly escaped, police sources told Al Jazeera. 

‘It is believed that several gunmen are currently hiding in the Jakarta Theatre, a cinema near the affected area. A lot people are believed to be still inside. Police has the building surrounded. The situation there is very unclear.’

‘The attacks have caused a lot of panic and the area has been locked down by police.’

‘The police are still investigating so we don't know how and why the attack happened. There were at least six explosions, and so far it looks like the police was the target.’

BDST: 1217 HRS, JAN 14, 2016
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** Blasts in Indonesia kill 6