The Jakarta Post, November 14, 2003
Fugitive terrorist may attack 6 months after Marriott blast
Tiarma Siboro and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Thursday that fugitive Malaysian terror
suspect Dr. Azahari bin Husin was planning an attack in early February to mark the
six-month anniversary of the JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta.
According to Da'i, handwritten notes found in a rented room that had been used by
Azahari in Bandung, West Java, showed he was plotting a new bombing. A
confession from other detained militants, Ismail and Tohir, confirmed those plans, he
said.
Nevertheless, he said that possible targets were not known until "we are able to arrest
the fugitive."
Azahari, together with Noordin Mohammad Top, is allegedly a leader and bombmaker
for Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the al-Qaida-linked terror group blamed for last year's Bali
bombings, which killed 202 people, and the Aug. 5 Marriott blast that killed 12 and
injured 150 others.
Both Azhari and Noordin narrowly escaped a police raid on their rented house in
Bandung on Oct. 29. Police believe that the fugitives carried only a small amount of
explosives with them that could be used to commit suicide if they were in danger of
arrest. The police added that, at worst, they could only endanger people in close
proximity to them.
"The confession of Tohir (shows) that six months after the attack on the JW Marriott
hotel, (Azahari) will launch another (attack)," Bachtiar said after holding a meeting at
the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
Tohir and Ismail were arrested last month in Cirebon, West Java. They are accused of
helping plan the Marriott blast.
National Police chief of detectives Erwin Mappaseng said on Thursday that several
locations had become targets in terrorist plans.
"Yes, there are notes showing places that are targeted by the terrorists but we cannot
specify the places, to avoid causing panic among the public," said Erwin.
He added that police had anticipated the attacks by tightening security at the places
mentioned in the notes.
On Wednesday, a one-star general familiar with the terrorist investigation told The
Jakarta Post that the terrorist would attack at least 12 buildings.
Among the targets mentioned were Citibank Landmark at Setiabudi, South Jakarta,
Citibank Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, the Caltex office, West Jakarta, residences of
expatriates, Hero shopping center and Kem Chicks, all in Kemang, South Jakarta,
JW Marriott Hotel, South Jakarta, and internationals schools, including Jakarta
International School and the Australian International school.
Erwin refused to confirm the report and would only say that the terrorist would
prioritize U.S. interests in Indonesia.
"Their prime targets will be American interests -- not to expel foreigners from
Indonesia but to make people panic," he said.
Erwin denied claims that the terrorists have been able to enter Jakarta and that police
have already been able to locate them.
"No, they are not in Jakarta and if we knew their whereabouts we would simply arrest
them," he said.
Da'i said earlier that the police had managed to identify the hideouts of both Azahari
and Noordin. He said that it was just a matter of time before the two fugitives were
captured.
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