Mosque blast revelations to be announced Monday

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police are scheduled to disclose on Monday the results of investigations in the case relating to the April 19 powerful blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, following growing public speculation on the motive of those allegedly responsible.

The investigation result "will be released tomorrow at noon", an officer at the Jakarta Police's information unit said on Sunday.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman initially told reporters on Saturday information would be released the following day. Dozens of reporters waited at Jakarta Police Headquarters on Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta for hours on Sunday only to found the planned disclosure was canceled.

Because the explosive devices were placed on the ground floor of the six-story mosque, where the risk of causing fatalities was minimal, many speculated the blast was politically motivated.

Police tended to be "extra careful" while investigating the case. None of the officers, including National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi, were willing to speak about the crime and only said, "The city police chief will talk later".

A reliable source, however, said on Saturday a state official was allegedly behind the crimes, but he stressed police were unlikely to divulge all their findings as the case was related to elite politic maneuvering.

"We only focus on the criminal offense ... so far we have not yet obtained confessions from the detained suspects that they were doing it for political motives," the source said.

"The crimes are worth billions of rupiah and who can afford that amount of money? So police will only release to media the operators of the crimes," he said.

Thirteen people are currently detained in connection with the crimes, and six bombs -- allegedly planned for placement in several public places in the capital -- have been seized by police.

"Most possibly only eight or 11 will be announced as the operators," the source said.

The blast -- from a high mixture of trinitroluene (TNT) and potassium chlorate (KCLO3) -- shattered windows of at least 21 offices of Muslim-based organizations. Damage was estimated at about Rp 500 million.

Police have so far questioned 28 people as witnesses in relation to the blast in a bid to identify two men suspected of planting the bomb, who entered the mosque compound on an RX-King motorcycle.(emf)