Military impounds illegal weapons

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: A group of military troops located on Friday an alleged weaponry home industry outfit in a remote village in North Aceh and impounded various explosives, a local police officer said.

Spokesman for the Cinta Meunasah II joint police-military operation here, Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad Harun, said as quoted by Antara that the house belonged to Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebel group.

Without revealing details of the house location, Harun said the Army personnel found 25 assembled bombs, each 25 centimeters in diameter, two grinding machines, a sack of gunpowder and eight empty drums which read "Exxon Mobil".

Also confiscated were 10 home-made handguns and a damaged van with the writing "University of Abadek".

"The house had long been abandoned when the military raid took place," Harun said.

Separately in East Aceh, Mobile Brigade Police troops raided a house in Paya Ketengger believed to be a GAM base. They seized two live grenades, two cans of gunpowder, medicines and two motorcycles.