Suspect in grenade attack arrested

INDONESIA: Following the arrest of Thayib, one of the suspects in the grenade attack near a property of the U.S. government on Jl. Teluk Betung, Central Jakarta, police managed to nab another suspect in Cianjur, West Java.

Jakarta Police Detectives chief Sr. Comr. Andi Chaerudin told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that the police nabbed the suspect, named M. Ali, after a long surveillance.

"He is the last suspect to be arrested in the case," said Andi.

Andi said there were four assailants inside the Kijang van who planned to throw the grenade into one of the buildings along the street but the grenade exploded prematurely, killing one of the assailants Abdul Azis Jenis and injuring a driver named Yusuf. Thayib and Ali managed to flee.

Thayib was arrested last month in Toleho, Seram island, Maluku.

Based on statements from Thayib and Yusuf, it seems that the motive behind the aborted grenade attack was a loan dispute between two businessmen named Juanda and Hasjim, Andi said.

"However, we have not concluded yet whether or not the motive behind the attack definitely was a loan dispute as we are still delving into the case," said Andi. --JP