Five members of the Jakarta-based National Police Forensic Laboratory scoured bomb-explosion sites Saturday on a highway leading to PT Freeport Indonesia's gold and copper concession in the Mimika regency of Papua.

Accompanied by Papuan police, the forensic team combed the area in search of remains from the mortar-like bombs that exploded near a gas station at Mile 50 as well as under a bridge over the Kabur river, at Mile 39.

The forensic team is trying to determine the type, materials and production dates of the mortars fired Thursday by an unidentified group, said Mimika Police Chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Godhelp C. Mansnembra.

Eighteen traditional miners conducting activities in the company's tailing dump area have been questioned as witnesses, Mansnembra added.

"We let them go home for now. They claimed to know nothing about the explosions," he said Saturday.

One of the bombs exploded around 11:30 a.m under the bridge with the other detonating near a gas station sometime around 3:30 p.m., Papua time, two hours ahead of Jakarta time.

Prior to the blasts, several gunshots were heard around 11:30 a.m. at Mile 43 in Mimika's Kuala Kencana district.

In response to the situation, police increased security around PT Freeport's mining concession on Saturday. The company is a unit of U.S. giant mining Freeport McMoran.

"Instigators are now operating in Timika to create disorder. Many leaflets are currently circulating, asking people to follow their terrorist acts," Mansnembra said.

The police chief denied the separatist group was behind a letter allegedly signed by separatist leader Kelly Kwalik that has been circulating through the Banti area, calling for the mining giant to close its local concessions.

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