Indonesia arrests cleric in terror plot
Source: Agencies |
August 10, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
INDONESIA'S anti-terrorism unit arrested a radical Islamist cleric yesterday for alleged ties to an al-Qaida-affiliated cell accused of plotting high-profile assassinations and Mumbai-style attacks targeting foreigners in Jakarta.
Abu Bakar Bashir, who has been arrested twice before and spent several years in jail, was heading home after delivering a sermon when the police swooped, surrounding his van and smashing in the rear window when body guards tried to stand in their way.
"The United States is behind this!" shouted the white-bearded cleric. He smiled as he was escorted under tight security into police headquarters, and said: "This arrest is a blessing ... I will be rewarded by Allah!"
The 71-year-old is best known as one of the co-founders and spiritual head of Jemaah Islamiyah, the al-Qaida-linked network responsible for a string of suicide bombings in the world's most populous Muslim nation, including the 2002 attacks on Bali Island that killed 202 people, most of them Western tourists.
Bashir, who has always denied terrorist links, was also one of the founders of al-Mukmin boarding school in the Central Java town of Solo that produced some of the country's deadliest bombers.
Police spokesman Major General Edward Aritonang said yesterday this was the first time authorities had evidence Bashir was not just inspiring militants with his anti-Western rhetoric, but directly involved in planning attacks.
He allegedly provided funds for a new terror cell in Aceh province and played "an active role in preparing the initial plans for their military struggle." The cleric also helped appoint its leaders and received regular reports from their field coordinator, the police spokesman said.
Police have one week to file official charges.
Abu Bakar Bashir, who has been arrested twice before and spent several years in jail, was heading home after delivering a sermon when the police swooped, surrounding his van and smashing in the rear window when body guards tried to stand in their way.
"The United States is behind this!" shouted the white-bearded cleric. He smiled as he was escorted under tight security into police headquarters, and said: "This arrest is a blessing ... I will be rewarded by Allah!"
The 71-year-old is best known as one of the co-founders and spiritual head of Jemaah Islamiyah, the al-Qaida-linked network responsible for a string of suicide bombings in the world's most populous Muslim nation, including the 2002 attacks on Bali Island that killed 202 people, most of them Western tourists.
Bashir, who has always denied terrorist links, was also one of the founders of al-Mukmin boarding school in the Central Java town of Solo that produced some of the country's deadliest bombers.
Police spokesman Major General Edward Aritonang said yesterday this was the first time authorities had evidence Bashir was not just inspiring militants with his anti-Western rhetoric, but directly involved in planning attacks.
He allegedly provided funds for a new terror cell in Aceh province and played "an active role in preparing the initial plans for their military struggle." The cleric also helped appoint its leaders and received regular reports from their field coordinator, the police spokesman said.
Police have one week to file official charges.
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