According to an official Jakarta police Twitter account, one explosion went off outside a shopping center called the Sarinah mall.

Gunshots were heard as police approached after the mid-morning explosion in the area that also has many luxury hotels, embassies and offices.

A local television said that a total of six explosions had been heard.

Indonesia has been on alert over the threat of attacks by Takfiri groups and police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to the extremists; Press TV reported.

M/M