Post by QPR Report on Jul 17, 2009 6:37:47 GMT
Independent
Match cancelled after bomb hits Man Utd hotel
By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport, in Kuala Lumpur
Manchester United today cancelled a match in the Indonesian capital Jakarta after bombs exploded at two luxury hotels in the city, killing nine people.
The team had been due to stay in one of the hotels hit in today's attacks, the Ritz-Carlton.
The English champions were to play an Indonesia Super League XI in Jakarta in a pre-season friendly on Monday.
But the club said the game would not be going ahead after today's attack.
After seeking advice from various parties, including the Foreign Office, United confirmed they would not be flying to Jakarta tomorrow.
In a statement, the club said: "Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour."
The hotels are in an upmarket business district in Jakarta.
The blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and the neighbouring Marriott hotels killed nine and wounded at least 50, Indonesian officials said.
The Foreign Office said it had no indication of any British casualties.
The Ritz-Carlton was United's destination tomorrow night after playing the first game of their four-match tour in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The team had been due to stay at the hotel for four nights.
The explosions blew out windows and scattered debris and glass across the street.
South Jakarta police Colonel Firman Bundi said that four of the dead were foreigners.
A Foreign Office spokesman in London said: "We've got no indications that there are any Britons involved. We've got staff still checking and we're seeking access to the scene and going to the hospitals to check."
At the Metropolitan Medical Centre, a list was posted with the names of people wounded. An official at the registration office said 11 were foreigners.
Witnesses at the scene told Indonesian Metro TV that the injured were seen being taken away in ambulances.
Although there have been no terrorist problems in the country for a number of years and presidential elections passed off peacefully recently, the Marriott Hotel was badly damaged by a car bomb attack in 2003 that killed 12 people.
That coincided with a period when Islamist militants from the Jemaah Islamiyah organisation were blamed for numerous attacks, including bombings on the island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people. Many militants have since been arrested.
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/match-cancelled-after-bomb-hits-man-utd-hotel-1750247.html
Match cancelled after bomb hits Man Utd hotel
By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport, in Kuala Lumpur
Manchester United today cancelled a match in the Indonesian capital Jakarta after bombs exploded at two luxury hotels in the city, killing nine people.
The team had been due to stay in one of the hotels hit in today's attacks, the Ritz-Carlton.
The English champions were to play an Indonesia Super League XI in Jakarta in a pre-season friendly on Monday.
But the club said the game would not be going ahead after today's attack.
After seeking advice from various parties, including the Foreign Office, United confirmed they would not be flying to Jakarta tomorrow.
In a statement, the club said: "Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour."
The hotels are in an upmarket business district in Jakarta.
The blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and the neighbouring Marriott hotels killed nine and wounded at least 50, Indonesian officials said.
The Foreign Office said it had no indication of any British casualties.
The Ritz-Carlton was United's destination tomorrow night after playing the first game of their four-match tour in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The team had been due to stay at the hotel for four nights.
The explosions blew out windows and scattered debris and glass across the street.
South Jakarta police Colonel Firman Bundi said that four of the dead were foreigners.
A Foreign Office spokesman in London said: "We've got no indications that there are any Britons involved. We've got staff still checking and we're seeking access to the scene and going to the hospitals to check."
At the Metropolitan Medical Centre, a list was posted with the names of people wounded. An official at the registration office said 11 were foreigners.
Witnesses at the scene told Indonesian Metro TV that the injured were seen being taken away in ambulances.
Although there have been no terrorist problems in the country for a number of years and presidential elections passed off peacefully recently, the Marriott Hotel was badly damaged by a car bomb attack in 2003 that killed 12 people.
That coincided with a period when Islamist militants from the Jemaah Islamiyah organisation were blamed for numerous attacks, including bombings on the island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people. Many militants have since been arrested.
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/match-cancelled-after-bomb-hits-man-utd-hotel-1750247.html