Regent office in North Aceh hit by hand grenade

At least four people suffered injuries when unidentified men threw a hand grenade at the office of the regent in North Aceh on Thursday morning, witnesses said. The attack, the second since eaely January, also damaged some parts of the office and at least six cars parked in the pront of the office.

Let Col Syafei Aksal, the chief of the local police office, confirmed the incident, saying the attack were carried out by two unidentified men riding a motor cycle.

The victims including Syafauddin Usman, Syarifuddin Hasbalahm Syaiful and Nurbahri were taken to the nearby hospital after the attack but were later allowed to go home. All of the victims suffered light injuries.

Armed clashes between the army and a pro-independence group have been intensifying recently and there are no indications that the conflicts would end soon.

Earlier in the morning, a group of armed civilians were reportedly to have robbed five vans especially used to take employees of Mobil Oil Indonesia's office in the regency from and to their office.

Witnesses said that the unidentified civilians stopped the vans on their way to their office and then brought the vans with them. (*)