Suspected Marriott bomber had explosive powder: Police

Zakki Hakim and Rizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police are looking for at least 50 kilograms of explosive powder and a car that belonged to Asmar Latin Sani, the suspected suicide bomber who was killed in the blast at JW Marriott Hotel, South Jakarta.

Bengkulu Police spokesman Comr. Dedy Jumadi said that the explosive powder had been taken by a suspected member of terror group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), Mohammad Rais, from Palembang in February this year and was kept at Asmar's house in Bengkulu until March 2003.

"According to Rais and Sardono, another JI member, who are now in custody at Bengkulu Police Headquarters, Asmar was the one who later brought the explosives," Dedy said, as quoted by Antara on Saturday.

Asmar was identified as a resident of Jl. Nuzirwan Zainul no. 1, Kampung Bali, Teluk Sagara subdistrict, Bengkulu, based on a 1987 identity card that bore his photograph.

However, when the police checked the address, no one knew of Asmar, who was a graduate of Ngruki Islamic boarding school in Surakarta, Central Java, and the number of his house did not even exist.

Sarwan, a resident of Kampung Bali, explained that no number under 100 existed on that street. It is possible that the address on Asmar's identity card was wrong.

Earlier, National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng said the suicide bomber had been identified as Asmar, based on a reconstructed head that had been thrown up to the fifth floor of the hotel in the blast.

"(His face) was identified by two arrested JI members, Sardono Siliwangi and Mohammad Rais. They recognized the specific features of a scar on his temple and a mole on his neck when we showed them a photo," he said.

Police alleged that Asmar, originally from Padang but living in Bengkulu, was the driver of the Toyota Kijang minivan laden with explosives and gasoline.

Erwin said that Asmar was a member of the Pekanbaru-Medan group that was allegedly involved in the Christmas 2000 bombings in Pekanbaru, Riau, and Medan, North Sumatra.

Police will compare Asmar's DNA with that of members of his family to confirm his identity.

"The group (in which Sardono and Rais are members) is really a smaller terrorist group, part of the Bali gang," Erwin said, referring to the bombers who killed 202 people, mostly foreigners, in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002.

The identity of the suspected bomber was also confirmed by Asmar's younger sister, Amanda. She recognized a scar caused by an accident five years ago, Erwin said.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Sr. Commr. Zainuri Lubis said on Saturday that no special security measures were being taken to protect U.S. citizens in the country.

"Naturally, property like office buildings, residential areas or schools will be given special security priority," he said, as quoted by detik.com news online.

"There will be no special security for U.S. citizens, except for the embassy and its officers, but still not round the clock," he said.

However, he added, the security measures were not only for U.S. property but were also in force for other countries, too.

"It's a universal measure," he said.

Police announced on Friday they suspected the bombing had been committed by JI members.

The organization was believed to be chaired by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is now being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for treason and immigration violations.