Associated Press, June 28, 2004
Police Arrest Terror Suspect In Eastern Indonesia
JAKARTA (AP)--Police detained a suspected Muslim militant in eastern Indonesia on
allegations that he played a role in terrorist attacks that have rocked the country over
the past several years, officials said Monday.
Brig. Gen. Pranowo, who heads the police anti-terror unit, confirmed the arrest but
refused to identify the man or detail the allegations against him. He only would say
that the suspect is not Azahari bin Husin or Noordin Mohammed - wanted for their
alleged involvement in the Oct. 12, 2002, Bali bombings and the Aug. 5, 2003 blast at
the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta.
"All I will say is that a terrorist has been arrested and he has been involved in past
terror acts," Pranowo said.
In the past two weeks, authorities have stepped up their search for Azahari and
Noordin. Both men are m! embers of the al-Qaida-linked terror group Jemaah
Islamiyah and are believed to be on the run in Indonesia.
The two Malaysians narrowly escaped capture in November when police raided a
house they were renting in Bandung, located about 180 kilometers west of Jakarta.
Authorities have warned that they are armed with explosives and planning fresh
attacks ahead of the July 5 presidential elections - possibly disguising themselves as
beggars and receiving shelter from fellow radicals in Indonesia.
Indonesia has been hit by a series of deadly bombings dating back to 2000. Most of
the attacks have been blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah and over 40 of its members have
been convicted for the Bali bombings and other terrorist attacks.
Copyright © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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