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Severed heads of Bali bombers on display
Investigators hunting for the masterminds of three suicide bombings on the popular resort island of Bali hoped to quickly identify the bombers Monday, with Indonesia's newspapers publishing photographs of their severed heads.I think I recognize that ear. Police also sought three accomplices believed to still be on the resort island, and enlisted a former operative of Southeast Asia's top terrorist group to help track down the plotters of Saturday's attack, which killed at least 22 people, including the bombers, and wounded 104. The bombers in the near-simultaneous blasts at three crowded restaurants were believed to have used explosive vests loaded with ball bearings to maximize the damage. Their torsos were blown apart, but their heads were intact â swollen and bruised but remarkably well-preserved, said Indonesian anti-terror official Maj. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai. In addition, a chilling video capturing a suspected bomber strolling past diners at one of the cafes moments before it was blown up could provide a tremendous boost to the investigation. Police think at least three other people were involved in the attacks and probably were still at large on Bali, Mbai said, adding that results could come within days. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks at two seafood cafes on Jimbaran beach and a restaurant in the bustling tourist center of Kuta, all packed with diners on the busiest night of the week. Well, it certainly couldn't have been anyone of the Religion of Peace™. Mbai said the alleged masterminds of the blasts were Malaysian fugitives Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamed Top â who have also been blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. They have eluded authorities for years, several times slipping through the fingers of Indonesian police who earlier offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Azahari and Noordin are alleged to be associated with Jemaah Islamiyah, whose members were convicted in attacks on two crowded nightclubs on Bali three years ago that killed 202 people, and two other deadly terrorist attacks in the world's most populous Muslim country in 2003 and 2004, both in Jakarta. Authorities have enlisted the help of a former Jemaah Islamiyah operative to help track down the masterminds in Saturday's bombings. Nasir Abbas, who has testified against former colleagues in trials, arrived on Bali two hours after the blasts, working as an informant for police. "Police are using him to help find which group is behind this operation. Former terrorists can help give details," Mbai said. Southeast Asian intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that the group could attempt a major terrorist attack in the region and, fearing more strikes, were clamping down. Though Jemaah Islamiyah members have said their goal was to punish the United States and its allies for killing Muslim civilians â in Iraq and elsewhere â most of the victims in Saturday's blast were Indonesians. In one neighborhood in Bali, residents erected a banner reading: "What has my Bali done to deserve this?" You let moslems on your island. Drink vendor Carsen was among many Balinese residents whose shock has started turning to anger after the tropical resort island, which relies heavily on tourism, again became a target. "When we catch these guys, there's no point providing them with defense lawyers, just string them up and let us punish them," said Carsen, who goes by one name. Posted by: Jackal 2005-10-03 |
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