Banda Aceh – A soldier was killed and nine people injured in fresh violence as crude bomb explosions rocked the restive Indonesian province of Aceh, police and residents said Thursday.

At least four explosions, all believed to be home-made bombs planted at various locations on the main road linking Banda Aceh in Aceh Besar to Sigli in neighbouring Pidie district, seriously injured one policeman Thursday, police said.

One of the explosives went off when a pick-up truck, one of more than 10 trucks carrying soldiers and police searching for the bombs, ran over it in Lampaku in the Indrapura subdistrict, Aceh Besar police chief Superintendent Sayed Huisaini said. One policeman on the pick-up was thrown off by the blast and severely injured, Husaini said.

Another bomb exploded as a car of the state Bank Rakyat Indonesia heading for Banda Aceh, passed Saree in Aceh Besar district but noone was injured in that blast. No casualties were reported from the other two blasts in Aceh Besar district.

In a separate incident a trooper was killed and five soldiers injured in an ambush sprung on three trucks carrying soldiers and supplies on a steep hill in Blang Mangat sub-district in North Aceh on Wednesday, North Aceh district police chief Superintendent Abadan Bangko said.

The attackers, numbering about 20 men, used grenade launchers and rifles, he said, adding that an ensuing exchange of fire lasted for 30 minutes. The injured were rushed to the military hospital in Lhokseumawe, the main town in the district.

A group of armed men also attacked a vehicle of Bank Rakyat Indonesiain Seunobok Nalan, in the North Aceh sub-district of Jeunied on Wednesday, seriously injuring three bank employees, he said. The attackers also used a grenade launcher, Bangko said. Residents said swarms of police and soldiers later combed the area, trying to flush out the attackers.