Bomb explodes near cleric's house

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After over three weeks of bomb warnings and threats in Jakarta, a low-explosive bomb jolted the capital early on Wednesday morning.

The bomb exploded in the front yard of a house rented by Islamic preacher Mohammad Iqbal, 47, better known as Abu Jibril, in Pamulang, Tangerang, which borders the city.

No one was injured in the explosion, as Abu Jibril and his family were in a nearby mosque for dawn prayers.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that the explosion at about 4:30 a.m. created a 20-centimeter diameter crater of about six centimeters depth and spread heavy smoke to surrounding houses.

"We found traces of black powder, several cables and a timer at the scene," he said.

Firman acknowledged that the police received a text message warning that a bomb would explode somewhere in Ciputat, South Jakarta, and Pamulang, hours earlier.

A witness said that three people on two motorcycles passed by the witness' place and the house rented by Abu Jibril just before the explosion.

After passing by several times, one of them threw a plastic bag into the house, which was followed by a blast.

Firman said that the police were still investigating the motive behind the bombing as well as determining the perpetrators.

"I talked to Abu Jibril when I was at the scene. We are still interrogating him, but we have not detained anyone nor named any suspect," Firman said.

Abu Jibril was allowed to go home in the evening.

Abu Jibril, who has a Malaysian wife, was first arrested under the Internal Security Act by the Malaysian authorities in June 2001 when he was about to deliver a sermon in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Malaysian police accused him of involvement in terrorist- related activities that posed a threat to the country's security and he remained in custody until his deportation from Malaysia on May 14 last year.

Following his deportation, Jibril was taken into police custody as he was suspected of being a senior member of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) network, which is accused of masterminding the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2003 JW Marriott hotel blast, and last year's blast outside the Australian embassy.

Officials also said that Jibril might be a close friend of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the alleged leader of JI.

Firman, however, doubted that the two Malaysian fugitive bombing masterminds Azahari Husin and Noordin Moh Top were behind the explosion.

"I have no reason to believe that the bomb in Pamulang had anything to do with Azahari and Noordin. They have a different style."