Indonesian counterterrorism police arrest Zulkarnaen (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) - Indonesian police have arrested a man believed to be themilitary leader of the Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah network who has eludedcapture since 2003.
ArisSumarsono, known as Zulkarnaen, was arrested late on December 10 bycounterterrorism police without resistance in a raid at a house in East Lampungdistrict on Sumatra island, said National Police spokesperson Ahmad Ramadhan onDecember 12.
Zulkarnaenis suspected of being involved in the making of bombs used in a series ofattacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostlyforeign tourists, and a 2003 attack on the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta,Indonesia’s capital, that killed 12, Ramadhan said.
Hesaid Zulkarnaen, a biologist who was among the first Indonesian militants to goto Afghanistan for training, is also accused of harbouring Upik Lawanga,another bomb maker and a key Jemaah Islamiyah’ member. Lawanga was arrested bycounterterrorism police in Lampung last week. He had eluded capture since 2005after being named as a suspect in an attack that killed more than 20 people ata market in Poso, known as a hotbed of religious militancy on Indonesia’sSulawesi island.
“Heis in custody and being questioned by investigators,” Ramadhan, adding thatpolice are still conducting an investigation at his house in Lampung.
Policesaid they were tipped off to Zulkarnaen's location in raids after interrogatingseveral suspected militants arrested late last month./.
