The Age, October 6, 2005
Five hunted over Bali blasts
By Mark Forbes, Indonesia Correspondent, Denpasar
FIVE Islamic radicals jailed for possessing explosives and with connections to the
2002 Bali bombings are among suspects being hunted across Indonesia over
Saturday's suicide attacks.
The five men were freed after serving jail terms of up to two years for possessing
several kilograms of explosives. They are associates of one of the planners of the first
Bali attacks, Imam Samudra, and two also knew Rois, sentenced to death for his role
in the bombing of Australia's Jakarta embassy last year.
When police went to arrest the men this week, they were missing from their homes.
Sources close to the investigation said it was unlikely that any of the five were suicide
bombers, but they may have helped with the attacks.
The raids for the men in Banten, 50 kilometres west of Jakarta, were part of several
sweeps of areas sympathetic to terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah. Port security has
been upgraded, with intelligence reports indicating the men might flee to Sumatra.
Police are also monitoring radicals in Solo, the town in central Java where JI's alleged
spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, has a school. Most of the original Bali bombers
studied there and it is now under surveillance.
Police also targeted radicals in East Java after several of the original Bali bombers,
Amrozi, Muklas and Samudra, were questioned in prison.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said yesterday the weekend
attacks had blackened Indonesia's image.
"The terrorist acts have spoiled Indonesia's reputation in the eyes of the world," Dr
Yudhoyono said.
On the military's 60th anniversary, he urged the armed forces to "take a technical and
strategic role in fighting and preventing future attacks".
Police spokesman Brigadier-General Sukarno said the police investigation was
"accelerating" but declined to give details. Police have interviewed 75 people, eight of
whom were not witnesses to the blasts.
The number of Australian police in Bali to assist the investigation was boosted to 45
yesterday, with additional intelligence and explosives experts sent.
Police believe JI's most senior bomb makers, Noordin Top and Azahari Husin,
organised the co-ordinated blasts in Balinese cafes that killed 22 people, including
four Australians, and wounded more than 100.
The pair was behind the attacks on the Jakarta embassy, the Marriott Hotel and the
original Bali attacks. They have evaded capture since 2002.
Some media reports claimed three men had been detained on suspicion of being part
of the suicide bombing cell, but police said they had been released and were not
connected to the attacks.
Australian Federal Police believe it could be another week before the fate of a
Newcastle couple missing since the attack is confirmed.
Police working to identify bodies said it was unclear when they would finish their work
but they would "start to obtain results, hopefully, within the next week".
Nine of the 17 Australians injured arrived at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital last
night to be reunited with family and friends.
After being treated for several days in Darwin, they were flown home with a specialist
medical team in an RAAF Hercules.
Five Australians — three from Newcastle and two from Busselton in Western Australia
— being treated in a Singapore hospital remain in a serious but stable condition. Medical staff
say they are still not well enough to come home.
The British Government said yesterday that a British man who holds dual nationality
was "highly likely" to have been killed in the blasts. "The indication is that there is one
dual national who has been killed but we are awaiting official indication," a Foreign
Office spokeswoman said.
The man is believed to have lived in Australia.
With IAN MUNRO, AGENCIES
Copyright © 2004. The Age Company Ltd.
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