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)