8 suspects named in Loki attack

AMBON, Maluku: The Maluku Police investigators have completed a probe into the recent attack on a Police Mobile Brigade post in Loki, about 50 kilometers north of Ambon, which left seven people dead.

Esly Demas, of the Maluku provincial prosecutor's office, said on Wednesday that the police had reported the progress and named eight people as suspects, one of whom was killed during the nighttime raid on the predominantly Christian village.

"Since the case is of national importance, the Maluku prosecutor's office has little control over it from here, as it will be handed over to the Attorney General's office (in Jakarta)," Esly explained, while adding that the Maluku prosecutors had set up a team to look into the attack.

He also accused the suspects of being involved in a spate of similar terror acts, such as the shootings at Wamkana village on neighboring Buru island last May, in which three were killed and four were wounded.

He also suggested that the same cell could have been in on the sniper attack against a ferry boat on Feb. 7 this year off Buru island, which left two people injured, as well as the bloody raid at the Kafe Vila in Hative Besar village on Feb. 14 that left two people dead. -- JP