3 Bandung Barat residents killed in Cipatat mortar blast
Police suspect the victims brought leftover training ammunition home and were dismantling the mortar with a hammer and chisel.
Three residents of Kampung Ciparang, Desa Cipatat, Kecamatan Cipatat, Bandung Barat district, West Java, died after an object believed to be a mortar exploded on Wednesday (8/7) at about 10:30 WIB. The victims were Ade (21), Suhri (40) and Rodiana (40). According to Cipatat police chief Kompol D.M.S. Andriani Sapin, two died at the scene, while Rodiana was taken to Puskesmas Rajamandala and later referred to Rumah Sakit Dustira before dying in the afternoon. Witness Damet said the three were suspected of often collecting spent ammunition from training exercises at the Infantry Education Center and may have been dismantling the mortar at Ade's house when the blast occurred. Police have cordoned off the area, while Inafis and Jibom teams from the West Java police secured the site and are investigating the source of the ammunition.