The Star Online [Malaysia], Friday, October 25, 2002
Indon police capture second suspect in grenade blast
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian police have arrested a second suspect in last
month's grenade blast near a house belonging to the U.S. Embassy, authorities said
Friday.
Mohammad Thayib was captured Thursday in a village in Maluku province, Jakarta
police chief Gen. Makbul Padmanegara said.
Thayib is one of two suspects who escaped after the Sep. 21 explosion inside a car in
a residential area in Central Jakarta.
The hand grenade killed one man inside the vehicle, and residents chased down and
captured the injured driver but Thayib and another passenger managed to flee.
There were conflicting reports about the motive of the attack which occurred near a
house belonging to the U.S. Embassy.
Media reports have speculated that the men in the car were planning to throw the
grenade at a nearby business in an effort to collect a debt from its owner, but
authorities have said the motive remained unclear.
"It is still unclear whether the real target was the embassy house or a businessman,''
Makbul said.
Maluku province, in central Indonesia, has been plagued by three years of fighting
between Muslims and Christians, leaving nearly 10,000 people dead. - AP
Copyright © 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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