Police sketches of the suicide bombers:Ritz-Carlton Hotel Male; Age: 20-40;
Complexion: tan; Hair: short, straight, black;
Height: approximately 165 cm.
JW Marriott Hotel Male; Age: 16-17;
Complexion: fair; Hair: short, straight, black;
Height: 180-190 cm; Shoe size 42-43
(Source: Indonesia National Police)
The National Police on Wednesday arrested the alleged Indonesian wife of Malaysian terrorist leader Noordin M Top, as their investigation into last week’s twin suicide bombings experienced a setback when DNA results came up negative for one of the suspected suicide bombers, police sources said. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Sukarna said suspect Nur Hasbi was not one of the unidentified bodies from the attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels on Friday that killed seven, not counting the bombers, and wounded 55. Police had conducted DNA tests on the family of Nur, wanted by the police since 2006 and believed to be linked to a splinter group of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist cell led by Noordin. Nur, 35, also known as Nur Rusdi and Nur Said, is still at large. “Neither of the two bodies has been identified as that of Nur Hasbi or Ibrahim,” Nanan said, referring to a worker at the Ritz-Carlton reported missing after the bombings. Ibrahim’s family also underwent DNA testing. The National Police released sketches of two men believed to be the suicide bombers. “We are asking the public to come forward if they can identify these faces,” said Brig. Gen. Eddy Saparwoko, head of the Police Center for Medical and Health Service. The sketches are based on the bombers’ detached heads, found at the bomb sites. Eddy said it was likely that the attackers had rented Room 1808 of the Marriott, where police found an unexploded bomb after the attacks. Nanan also said one of the seven victims from the attacks was identified as Dutch national EJC Koenig, who had traveled to Indonesia with her husband Peter Burrer and had been missing since the attacks. “Her husband is most likely one of the three unidentified bodies,” he said, adding that the other two were the bombers. A senior National Police officer was confident that investigators would eventually identify and capture those responsible. “We have used a technology-based method and we already know the group behind these attacks. Be patient, we will raid their hideout,” the officer told the Jakarta Globe on condition of anonymity. The source also confirmed that Ari Aryani, believed to be the wife of Noordin, Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terror suspect, was arrested on Wednesday in the Central Java town of Cilacap. “We arrested her to collect more information about Noordin’s whereabouts,” he said, while acknowledging that there was only a slim chance of capturing him anytime soon. Noordin, who analysts said leads a JI breakaway group intent on jihad and attacking Western targets, is accused of planning and carrying out the bombings in Bali in 2002 and 2005, the Marriott in 2003 and the Australian Embassy in 2004. Ari is the daughter of fugitive Bahrudin Latif, 60, founder and manager of an Islamic boarding school in Cilacap, where counterterrorism police found bomb-making materials during a raid on July 14. Watim Suseno, a village chief near the school, said he witnessed Ari’s arrest.
Author: The Jakarta Globe
