DNA matches samples from bomb site

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police have identified a suicide bomber involved in the deadly blast outside the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, after finding DNA samples taken at the bomb site matched blood and tissue samples taken from family members of a terror suspect.

"One of them or, in fact, DNA from one family is identical (with samples from the site). However, we must wait for another DNA test from another family in another place in one or two days, before reaching a final conclusion," said National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

Police said last week that they were conducting DNA tests on body parts found at the bomb site to match them against blood samples taken from family members of G, alias IC alias HG, IB, J and H in West Java and East Java.

They said they were looking for more people from West Java with initials IZ, IG, and IP, who were willing to become suicide bombers.

A credible police source said the suspect whose DNA matched family members was Heri Gulun (HG).

"We believe that Heri was the one who had conducted the suicide bombing because he apologized to his family in letters saying that he would die a martyr," he told The Jakarta Post.

The source said that Heri was a member of a West Java suicide bomber group recruited by Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamad Top. Both fugitives were in West Java around February to June before the Kuningan bombing.

Azahari and Noordin were believed to have masterminded the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and the 2003 JW Marriott Hotel attack, which claimed 12 lives.

Police said the two had recruited several new suicide bombers, including those who perpetrated the Kuningan bombing on Sept. 9, which killed 10 people, including the bomber.

The source said that Heri came from Cipedes village in Sukabumi, West Java.

"Villagers and authorities there have confirmed that seven residents, including Heri and a man identified as Nanang, have not returned home for months," he said.

Police have arrested over 30 people but only officially named six people in connection with the blast. The suspects detained after the Kuningan blast are IR and AAH, while suspects arrested before the blast are UB, IS and DN. Another suspect Rois, alias Iwan Darmawan, is still at large. Rois was believed to be Azahri's closest aide.

Police said that all of the detained suspects were accused of harboring Azahari and Noordin and helping transporting the explosive materials for the Kuningan bombing.

Da'i stated that the police had strong evidence that Rois was involved in the Kuningan attack but refused to specify his role in the bombing.

The four-star general acknowledged that his officers managed to capture a close aide of Hambali, alleged Southeast Asian mastermind who is now being detained by the U.S government, in North Sulawesi a few months ago.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Sudjono said that Adrian Ali, alias Amin, was captured in July.

"He is connected with the bombing in Pangandaran, West Java, in 2000. Several detained suspects have confirmed his role in the bombing. We also found that he faked his passport and identity," he said.