The Sydney Morning Herald, October 4, 2005
Hunt for masterminds steps up
By Mark Forbes in Denpasar and Joseph Kerr
Investigators say they have identified the suicide cell responsible for the bombings in
Bali at the weekend and are searching the island for at least three organisers.
Major-General Ansyaad Mbai, the counter-terrorism chief at Indonesia's National
Security Ministry, said breakthroughs had been made in the investigation in the
previous 24 hours.
He identified the senior Jemaah Islamiah bomb-makers Azahari Husin and Noordin
Mohammed Top as the masterminds of the attack. The pair, responsible for the 2002
Bali bombings as well as the Marriott Hotel blast and the bombing of the Australian
embassy in Jakarta, have evaded capture for three years.
Information provided by imprisoned JI operatives had provided vital leads, General Mbai
said. It is understood one of the operatives was a close associate of Noordin and
Azahari.
"We know where to go with the group and who recruited them," General Mbai said.
Asked if the two bomb-makers organised the attacks, he replied: "Azahari and
Noordin are always behind these incidents, so what else?"
Indonesian doctors yesterday reduced to 22 the total death toll from the blasts,
bringing hospital numbers into line with police.
Four Australians are among those killed, although officials are awaiting DNA testing to
confirm the death of a missing couple, Colin and Fiona Zwolinski.
By yesterday 16 injured Australians had been evacuated to Singapore or Darwin. Five
people admitted to hospital were discharged.
Indonesia's deputy police chief, Brigadier-General Sunarko, said yesterday police
were attempting to confirm the identity of the three suicide bombers and trying to
establish how they were recruited.
Pictures of their severed heads would be distributed across Indonesia to help with
identification, he said. All three were estimated to be aged between 20 and 25.
Thirty-two Australian Federal Police agents have been sent to Bali to help in
investigations, and more may be sent if needed. Other officers are screening people
returning to Australia from Bali by air for information about the bombings.
At least 20 people returning to Sydney from Bali have been able to provide information
of interest to federal police investigators.
A spokeswoman for Sydney Airport said passengers were being given a questionnaire
on the flight and asked to complete it before arriving in Sydney. More than 5000
passengers had been interviewed, a federal police spokesman said.
The Australian officer in charge of the disaster victim identification team, Mick Travers,
confirmed federal police experts were attempting to identify the three suspected
suicide bombers along with their victims.
Identification was difficult, as it always was, he said. But he said all victims would be
identified. A terrorist cell linked to Azahari had been actively planning a series of
attacks in Indonesia since June this year, including bombing the Indonesian police
headquarters.
Three months before the latest bombings, Indonesian police arrested 17 terrorist
suspects in Central Java and Jakarta and discovered electrical bomb circuits,
documents detailing possible attacks and several weapons.
Several of those arrested in the July raids were reportedly involved in the embassy
bombing, allegedly providing the detonators and explosives, and others were charged
with harbouring Azahari. However, the arrests were played down because several of
the suspects appeared to be low-level figures, including a driver for Azahari.
BALI ATTACKS
- The Malaysians Azahari Husin and Noordin Mohammed Top the suspected
masterminds.
- Death toll reduced to 22. Two Australianns confirmed dead, two presumed dead.
- 16 of the most seriously injured Australlians flown to Singapore and Darwin.
- AFP interviewing all Australians returniing from Bali.
- More than 5000 Australians screened, 20 of whom have provided important clues.
- 32 AFP officers in Bali helping with invvestigation.
- Philip Ruddock says Australian and Indonnesian efforts have reduced terrorists'
powers off attack.
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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