Blast kills suspected bombmaker<\/p>\n
La Remmy and Erik W., The Jakarta Post, Palu, Sulawesi Tengah<\/p>\n
A suspected bombmaker was killed on Thursday as the powerful
\nexplosive device he was assembling exploded in the Central
\nSulawesi regency of Poso, which has been experiencing an uneasy
\npeace after two years of sectarian fighting finished in 2001.<\/p>\n
The victim was identified as Bachtiar alias Manto, 20, said
\nCentral Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. M. Taufik Ridha.<\/p>\n
He said the blast blew off Bachtiar's hands and severely
\ndamaged his legs, head, eyes and chest. He died instantly.<\/p>\n
Taufik said the home-made bomb exploded at around 9 a.m. in a
\nhouse belonging to Bachtiar's father Arsiah Ali, in Kayamanya
\nvillage, Poso.<\/p>\n
Arsiah survived the incident as he was outside the house. But
\nmost parts of the house, including the roof, windows and its
\nfront wall, were destroyed.<\/p>\n
\"So, the exploding bomb was quite powerful,\" Taufik said.<\/p>\n
He said Bachtiar was wanted by the police for his alleged
\ninvolvement in a July 11 bombing, that wounded four people at the
\nVictoria cafe in Poso. One of the victims, identified as
\nSutrisno, 40, sustained serious wounds, and had his right leg and
\nleft hand amputated.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar had also been wanted in connection with the burning
\nof a Linda Jaya bus in 2001, Taufik added.<\/p>\n
\"We have been searching for him since the incident in 2001.
\nAnd we finally found him killed by an explosion in his own
\nhouse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The police chief said Bachtiar was the suspected maker of the
\nbomb. His body was found in a crouched position and bent over,
\nclose to the location of the bomb's explosion.<\/p>\n
Police also discovered ammonium nitrate, cables, a kerosene
\nlamp, a timer, batteries and a lighter.<\/p>\n
Taufik said the preliminary findings show that Bachtiar may
\nhave also been connected with several other bomb explosions at
\nstate-owned electricity company PT PLN's office in Palu, Central
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
The latest blast came two days after a powerful bomb explosion
\nkilled 10 people at the luxurious JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
However, police have not yet linked the Poso blast with the
\nMarriot attack. They are questioning five witnesses, including
\nBachtiar's parents about the incident, Taufik said.<\/p>\n
Some 2,000 people were killed in Poso during two years of
\nfighting between Muslim and Christian groups. In December 2001,
\nthe government brokered a peace deal between the warring factions
\nbut sporadic violence continues.<\/p>\n
Since the peace pact, a series of bombing incidents and
\nunsolved shootings has occurred in Poso. None of the suspects
\nhave been caught, despite enforced security.<\/p>\n
On July 10, Yulius Ledo Pamimi, a 32-year-old resident of
\nSaatu village in Poso, was shot dead by a sniper.<\/p>\n
Police were still in the dark about the culprits as the
\nbullets that killed Yulius could not be recovered because his
\nfamily refused to permit an autopsy to be performed.<\/p>\n
Another bomb also exploded in June in Kawua village, Lage
\nsubdistrict, when local residents were holding a traditional
\ndance party. No injuries were reported in this blast.<\/p>\n
In May, two other people were also shot dead by snipers in
\nanother part of Poso.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Poso national unity board, Moch Amirullah
\nSia, claimed the Thursday blast surprised local people but did
\nnot alter regular activities.<\/p>\n
\"The situation here is normal, the residents are not provoked
\nand they carry out the daily activities as usual,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blast-kills-suspected-bombmaker-1447893297",
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