Three arrested for suspected mosque bomb links

JAKARTA (JP): City police have arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the Istiqlal Grand Mosque blast on April 19, a reliable source said on Saturday.

The police source said the three were apprehended late Friday by a team of police detectives in separate raids in Jakarta.

The three are suspected to be members of a group who planted explosive devices on the ground floor of the biggest mosque in the region. The explosion shattered dozens of windows of at least 21 offices of Muslim-based organizations.

The source close to the investigation team said the three men -- identified only as Srd, By and Ant -- were being detained at city police headquarters.

"Srd and By are believed to be the people who planted the explosive devices on the ground floor of the mosque, while Ant, with his friend, who is still at large, were waiting outside," the source said.

When asked whether the three had already been named as suspects, he declined to answer, saying the three had just been arrested and were yet to be questioned.

"We can arrest them and keep them here (in detention) because we have enough evidence," the officer said.

At least another four people, allegedly involved in the attack on the six-story mosque, were still at large. The explosion rocked the capital, causing many to speculate that the attack was politically motivated

Police are reportedly chasing one of the four, believed to be a key suspect in crimes committed in Surabaya, the capital of East Java.

When reports on the arrest were confirmed to the city police detective chief, Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, he declined to comment.

He even asked: "Are the suspects really arrested? I haven't arrested anybody."

"Just wish me luck so that we can disclose the good news on the arrest next week," Alex said.

The police source said Alex later left town to lead the investigation.

City police have so far questioned 24 witnesses in connection with the blast at the mosque in a bid to identify two men suspected of planting the bomb, who entered the mosque compound on an RX-King motorcycle. A sketch of the face of one of the suspects has been widely published in the media.

It is believed that three other motorcycles left the mosque shortly after the blast, soon after the two men on the RX-King motorcycle were seen speeding away.

Recently police released the results of laboratory examinations on the chemical ingredients of the explosive devices.

The powerful blast was reportedly caused by a bomb made from the highly explosive mixture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and potassium chlorate (KCLO3).

Explosive substances are only sold to limited industries, including the military and mining companies.

The reports also said the explosive were connected to a timed detonator. (emf)