Fugitive linked to Jakarta blasts

BBC ^ | Page last updated at 12:50 GMT, Saturday, 18 July 2009 | u/a

[Fred Nerks]

Tributes are left for those killed in the hotel attacks

Indonesian officials say there are "strong indications" a key wanted fugitive was behind Friday's deadly attacks on two hotels in Jakarta.

Noordin Mohamed Top is wanted for plotting the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 and other Indonesian attacks.

Nine people, including two suicide bombers, died in the attacks on the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott.

At least four of Friday's victims are said to be foreigners but have not all been formally identified.

See map of area

Police in the Indonesian capital are studying DNA and other evidence to try to identify those behind the attacks.

The anti-terror chief, Ansyaad Mbai, has told the BBC he believes there are strong indications that Noordin was the mastermind behind the blasts.

NOORDIN MOHAMED TOP

Born in Malaysia, fled to Indonesia after 9/11 Wanted for planning bombings on Bali in 2002 and 2005 and other attacks

Said to have split from Jemaah Islamiah over strategy disagreements and set up new group

Main accomplice Azahari Husin killed by police in 2005

Escaped police raid in 2006 and continues to evade capture

Noordin was said to be a key financier for the Jemaah Islamiah militant group but is now thought to have set up his own splinter group.

Jemaah Islamiah has links to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of bomb attacks in Indonesia including the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people.

Friday's bombs contained nails, ball bearings and bolts, identical to ones used by Jemaah Islamiah, police said...

[Fred Nerks]

A New Zealander, businessman Tim Mackay, has been confirmed killed.

Indonesian police say Australians Nathan Verity and Garth McEvoy also died.

Their countryman, diplomat Craig Senger, was at the same breakfast meeting. He is missing and feared dead.

A health ministry report said a Singaporean and an Indonesian were also confirmed dead.

At least 17 foreigners were among the wounded, including eight Americans.

Other foreign nationals wounded included visitors from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and the UK.

[angkor]

Have you seen the numbers for the Indonesian casualties? (I briefly looked around but haven’t yet seen them).

We treat the Indonesian casualties (deaths and injuries) as if they are nonexistent and (i.e., “insignificant”), but in fact the JI terror bombings stopped for many years **precisely** due to the fact that in the first JW Marriot bombing Indonesian Muslim casualties were ***80 to 90 percent*** of the total.

And even though it was greatly under-reported (in fact almost not reported at all in the Western press), the Bali bombing produced 300 to 400 Indonesian casualties.

300 to 400! And it was barely reported!

It is worth thinking about that in this recent incident, the Jakarta Post ran several stories about the local impact on Jakartans, with the city shopping malls being a big concern. Luckily nothing happened (yet).

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fred Nerks!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fred Nerks!