Fugitive terrorist may attack 6 months after Marriott blast

Fugitive terrorist may attack 6 months after Marriott blast

Tiarma Siboro and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Thursday that
fugitive Malaysian terror suspect Dr. Azahari bin Husin was
planning an attack in early February to mark the six-month
anniversary of the JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta.

According to Da'i, handwritten notes found in a rented room
that had been used by Azahari in Bandung, West Java, showed he
was plotting a new bombing. A confession from other detained
militants, Ismail and Tohir, confirmed those plans, he said.

Nevertheless, he said that possible targets were not known
until "we are able to arrest the fugitive."

Azahari, together with Noordin Mohammad Top, is allegedly a
leader and bombmaker for Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the al-Qaida-
linked terror group blamed for last year's Bali bombings, which
killed 202 people, and the Aug. 5 Marriott blast that killed 12
and injured 150 others.

Both Azhari and Noordin narrowly escaped a police raid on
their rented house in Bandung on Oct. 29. Police believe that the
fugitives carried only a small amount of explosives with them
that could be used to commit suicide if they were in danger of
arrest. The police added that, at worst, they could only endanger
people in close proximity to them.

"The confession of Tohir (shows) that six months after the
attack on the JW Marriott hotel, (Azahari) will launch another
(attack)," Bachtiar said after holding a meeting at the Office of
the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.

Tohir and Ismail were arrested last month in Cirebon, West
Java. They are accused of helping plan the Marriott blast.

National Police chief of detectives Erwin Mappaseng said on
Thursday that several locations had become targets in terrorist
plans.

"Yes, there are notes showing places that are targeted by the
terrorists but we cannot specify the places, to avoid causing
panic among the public," said Erwin.

He added that police had anticipated the attacks by tightening
security at the places mentioned in the notes.

On Wednesday, a one-star general familiar with the terrorist
investigation told The Jakarta Post that the terrorist would
attack at least 12 buildings.

Among the targets mentioned were Citibank Landmark at
Setiabudi, South Jakarta, Citibank Pondok Indah, South Jakarta,
the Caltex office, West Jakarta, residences of expatriates, Hero
shopping center and Kem Chicks, all in Kemang, South Jakarta, JW
Marriott Hotel, South Jakarta, and internationals schools,
including Jakarta International School and the Australian
International school.

Erwin refused to confirm the report and would only say that
the terrorist would prioritize U.S. interests in Indonesia.

"Their prime targets will be American interests -- not to
expel foreigners from Indonesia but to make people panic," he
said.

Erwin denied claims that the terrorists have been able to
enter Jakarta and that police have already been able to locate
them.

"No, they are not in Jakarta and if we knew their whereabouts
we would simply arrest them," he said.

Da'i said earlier that the police had managed to identify the
hideouts of both Azahari and Noordin. He said that it was just a
matter of time before the two fugitives were captured.