Explosions rock Jakarta shopping mall

Seven people – five of them the attackers – have died after co-ordinated terror attacks in Jakarta.

The Australian government has offered assistance to Indonesia in the wake of the deadly shootings and bombings, which also injured at least 

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Fairfax Media Indonesian correspondent Jewel Topsfield told Ross and John authorities had been bracing themselves for such an attack.

‘It was really just a matter of when rather than if it happened,’ she said on 3AW Breakfast.

‘As horrific as yesterday was, everyone was incredibly lucky only seven people died, five of which were the terrorists.’

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One the blasts occurred in front of a shopping centre, the Sarinah Mall, in an area where luxury hotels, office buildings, and embassies are located.

Eye witnesses say they saw several bodies in the street following an exchange of gunfire between police and unknown assailants outside.

3AW listener David called Tom Elliott to say that his wife and children were left stranded in a nearby shopping mall.

Click play to hear his emotional call

5.30pm yesterday on DRIVE: Hear from The Jakarta Globe’s Hayat Indriyatno

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3.30pm Rendi Witular, Managing Editor at The Jakarta Post, spoke to Tom Elliott shortly after the blast