Saudi Police urged to help locate bombing suspect

Saudi Police urged to help locate bombing suspect

JAKARTA (JP): The National Central Bureau of ICPO-Interpol has
requested the Saudi Arabian Police to track down the prime
suspect in the Christmas Eve bomb attacks, identified as Hambali
and strongly suspected to have fled to Saudi Arabia.

"The problem is our country does not have an extradition
treaty with Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, we have asked Saudi
Arabian Police to track down Hambali," Secretary to the National
Central Bureau of ICPO-Interpol, Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida, said
on Thursday.

Dadang confirmed that Hambali alias Ridwan was raised in
Cianjur, West Java. He is married to a Malaysian and has resided
in Malaysia for over five years.

Dadang said at least one arrested suspect in the bomb attacks
had testified that Hambali is a key link to the attacks.

National Police detectives have spent weeks working with the
Malaysian Police in the hunt for Hambali.

National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Engkesman
Hillep said recently his men returned from Malaysia late last
week with news that Hambali was strongly suspected to be in Saudi
Arabia, probably for his haj pilgrimage.

A total of 19 people were killed in the wave of bomb attacks
that rocked several major cities nationwide on Christmas Eve.

Police earlier arrested eight suspects in connection with the
Christmas Eve bomb attacks, but reiterated the absence of clues
that could lead to the military's involvement. (ylt)