JI linked with Marriott blast
Damar Harsanto and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post Jakarta/Makassar
Police say the ongoing investigation into the JW Marriot Hotel bomb attack is pointing towards the involvement of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terrorist network.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday that police had a list and photographs of suspects linked to JI, the Islamic-based network believed responsible for the devastating Bali bombings.
Da'i, speaking prior to meeting the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense, pointed to similarities between the Marriott and Bali bombings.
The similarities included the explosives used, the fact the bomb was triggered by a mobile phone and that the terrorists had removed the engine and chassis numbers from the car used as a bomb, as they had done in Bali.
"We found a pattern that was specifically similar to Bali bombings. The engine and chassis numbers of the car (used in the bombings) have been erased by grinding," he said.
Police claimed they already have names and pictures of the suspects.
"We have known the group, who they are. Those who have been arrested told police that they were from the same group," said Da'i.
Police say detained JI terror suspects told them they had recruited the suicide bomber.
Despite all the information, Da'i said police had had trouble finding the suspects because they were using advanced communications technology that could not be traced.
"The Bali terrorists used communications equipment that enabled us to trace them."
In Makassar, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said the police results and information from intelligence sources showed the suspects in the latest bombing, which claimed 10 lives and left 149 others injured, were JI members.
"I'm very sure that JI was behind the Marriott bombing. If police have yet to announce it publicly to date, maybe it is because they still have to start (the investigation) from the crime scene," he told reporters.
Matori recalled the arrest of nine suspected JI members in several cities in Java. Those arrested suspects admitted to police investigators that they had planned to launch attacks to several strategic places in Jakarta.
Police also seized detonators, TNT, weapons and documents during the arrest.
Matori recalled the arrest of nine suspected JI members in several cities in Java. Those arrested suspects admitted to police investigators that they had planned to launch attacks on several strategic sites in Jakarta.
Police also seized detonators, TNT, weapons and documents during the arrest.
National Police criminal investigation chief Insp. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng said the suicide bomber had been identified as Asmar Latin Sani, 28. His reconstructed head, which had been blown up to the fifth floor of the hotel in the blast, had aided in the identification.
"(His face) was identified by two arrested JI members, Sardono Siliwangi and Mohammad Rais. They recognized the specific features of a scar on his temple and a mole on his neck when we showed them the picture," he said.
Police alleged that Asmar, of Padang origin but living in Bengkulu, was the driver of the Toyota Kijang minivan laden with explosives and gasoline.
Erwin said that Aswar was a member of the Pekanbaru-Medan group who was allegedly involved in the Christmas bombings in 2000 in Pekanbaru, Riau, and Medan, North Sumatra.
Police will compare Asmar's DNA with his family members to confirm the identity.
"The group (in which Sardono and Rais are members) is really a smaller terrorist group, part of the Bali gang," Erwin said, referring to the Bali bombers who killed 202 people, mostly foreigners.
The identity of the suspected bomber was also confirmed by Asmar's younger sister, Amanda. She recognized the scar caused by an accident five years ago, Erwin said.