Five in custody on suspicion of bombing attempts in Manado

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Police in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, arrested on Wednesday night five people suspected of attempting to stage a string of bombings on Christmas Eve in the predominant Christian city, security officers have said.

The five included two suspects -- Adnan and Khairil -- from the capital of South Sulawesi, Makassar, the scene of a deadly blast that killed three people and injured 11 others on Dec. 5.

The three other suspects were identified as Sutarjo from the town of Toli-Toli in Central Sulawesi, Ngadimin from Surabaya in East Java and Salim Tilaar from the town of Bolaang Mongondow in North Sulawesi.

South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said the team investigating the Makassar bombings was investigating the possibility of links between at least two of the five suspects, Adnan and Khairin, with the Makassar bombers.

"We have coordinated with the North Sulawesi Police in finding out whether the suspects arrested in Manado are part of Agung Hamid's group," he told a news conference in Makassar on Thursday.

Agung Hamid is the alleged mastermind of the deadly bombings at a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership in Makassar. However, he is still at large. Police earlier said Agung fled with at least four bombs that he could detonate at anytime.

"We are exchanging data and information discovered in the field with the North Sulawesi Police following the arrest of the five suspects to find out whether they are part of a terrorist network," Firman said.

He explained that the five suspects were arrested at separate locations in Manado after police received tips from locals who were suspicious of the five men's actions.

Adnan and Khairin were arrested at Manado's Surakarta Hotel along with Angadimin, while Sutarjo was apprehended outside a cathedral which was holding mass, while Salim was arrested at Elim church.

Firman said the police also seized "some equipment" found in a bag belonging to Ngadimin. During their interrogations, the five suspects could not divulge details on their jobs in Manado, he added.

Firman could not give further details on the five suspects under intensive investigation by the North Sulawesi Police.

"We are waiting for pictures of the suspects from Manado, particularly the two men who are residents of Makassar," he said.

Firman also said the South Sulawesi Police had named at least 18 suspects in the Makassar blasts, adding that all were members of the Agung Hamid-led group.

The eighteen were identified as Agung Hamid, Ansar Daeng Salam, Muchtar Daeng Lau, Usman, Masnur, Ilham, Hisbullah Rasyid, Dahlan, Suryadi, Lukman, Abdul Hamid, Ihwal Hamid, Mirzal, Itang, Khaerul, Kahar Mustafa, Suriadi and Anton.

Most are in police custody at South Sulawesi Police Headquarters. Only five of the suspects were on the police's wanted list: Agung Hamid, Dahlan, Hibullah, Mirzal and Anton.

The investigators have linked the Makassar bombers with Imam Samudra, the alleged mastermind behind the devastating Bali blasts on Oct. 12, which have been blamed on the regional Jamaah Islamiyah terror network.