Exxon closes down office in North Aceh

Major gas producer Exxon, formerly known as Moil Oil Indonesia has closed its office in the Point-A operation site of Lhoksuko, North Aceh due to growing uncertainty in the security situation in the troubled Aceh province, Analisa reported on Saturday.

The newspaper's source said that the gas mine operator was forced to stop its activities due to the escalation of terror activities conducted by armed people in the regency.

The company has earlier closed its two airfields in its operational area in North Aceh following grenade attacks carried out by armed men. One of the airfield was closed just recently after unidentified men shot an airplane, which was about to land in the airfield. The company's two employees on the board of the airplane were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile Kompas reported on Saturday that the police post in the Mutiara district in the Pidie province was attacked by a group of unidentified people, killing a child and destroying several houses.

The police said that the attack occurred on Thursday when unidentified men on a passing truck threw at least three hand grenades into the police post, which is located within the police housing complex,

Mayor M. Natsir, the deputy of the police chief in the Pidie regency said that the grenades exploded right in the front of the house of the chief of the police in the Mutiara district. (*)