Bomb explodes near cleric's house<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After over three weeks of bomb warnings and threats in Jakarta, a
\nlow-explosive bomb jolted the capital early on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
The bomb exploded in the front yard of a house rented by
\nIslamic preacher Mohammad Iqbal, 47, better known as Abu Jibril,
\nin Pamulang, Tangerang, which borders the city.<\/p>\n
No one was injured in the explosion, as Abu Jibril and his
\nfamily were in a nearby mosque for dawn prayers.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that the
\nexplosion at about 4:30 a.m. created a 20-centimeter diameter
\ncrater of about six centimeters depth and spread heavy smoke to
\nsurrounding houses.<\/p>\n
\"We found traces of black powder, several cables and a timer
\nat the scene,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Firman acknowledged that the police received a text message
\nwarning that a bomb would explode somewhere in Ciputat, South
\nJakarta, and Pamulang, hours earlier.<\/p>\n
A witness said that three people on two motorcycles passed by
\nthe witness' place and the house rented by Abu Jibril just before
\nthe explosion.<\/p>\n
After passing by several times, one of them threw a plastic
\nbag into the house, which was followed by a blast.<\/p>\n
Firman said that the police were still investigating the
\nmotive behind the bombing as well as determining the
\nperpetrators.<\/p>\n
\"I talked to Abu Jibril when I was at the scene. We are still
\ninterrogating him, but we have not detained anyone nor named any
\nsuspect,\" Firman said.<\/p>\n
Abu Jibril was allowed to go home in the evening.<\/p>\n
Abu Jibril, who has a Malaysian wife, was first arrested under
\nthe Internal Security Act by the Malaysian authorities in June
\n2001 when he was about to deliver a sermon in Shah Alam,
\nSelangor.<\/p>\n
Malaysian police accused him of involvement in terrorist-
\nrelated activities that posed a threat to the country's security
\nand he remained in custody until his deportation from Malaysia on
\nMay 14 last year.<\/p>\n
Following his deportation, Jibril was taken into police
\ncustody as he was suspected of being a senior member of Jamaah
\nIslamiyah (JI) network, which is accused of masterminding the
\n2002 Bali bombings, the 2003 JW Marriott hotel blast, and last
\nyear's blast outside the Australian embassy.<\/p>\n
Officials also said that Jibril might be a close friend of Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir, the alleged leader of JI.<\/p>\n
Firman, however, doubted that the two Malaysian fugitive
\nbombing masterminds Azahari Husin and Noordin Moh Top were behind
\nthe explosion.<\/p>\n
\"I have no reason to believe that the bomb in Pamulang had
\nanything to do with Azahari and Noordin. They have a different
\nstyle.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bomb-explodes-near-clerics-house-1447893297",
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