This bomb is a terrorist act. Its aim is pretty clear, it is to create excessive fear among society

Governor Sutiyoso

The bomb exploded in a phone booth in a car park outside the Atrium Mall, according to Jakarta police captain Paulus Waterpauw.

Police officials say the seriously injured man has lost a leg and has been taken to an army hospital where he is in a coma. Four others were injured by flying debris.

Thick smoke covered the multi-storied complex after the blast, which occurred at about 2000 (1300 GMT), the official Antara news agency reported.

String of attacks

Witnesses said the blast shattered ceiling lights and windows in the shopping centre.

Police quickly cordoned off the area, leaving hundreds of shoppers milling around as the emergency services tended to the injured.

The bomb was placed by a phone booth

"This bomb is a terrorist act. It's aim is pretty clear, it is to create excessive fear among society," Governor Sutiyoso said.

"This is not a stand-alone action, it is part of a syndicated act."

As yet no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

There have been several unsolved bomb attacks in Indonesia in recent months.

On Tuesday a priest was injured when a bomb exploded in the parking lot of a Protestant church in Semarang, capital of the province of Central Java.

More than 60 people were wounded in bomb blasts at two Jakarta churches during Sunday services in July.