[Iran Press TV Latest] Senior Indonesian counter-terror officials say a wanted Malaysian national is behind the recent twin bomb blasts in two luxury hotels in Jakarta. The Indonesian Security Ministry's anti-terror desk chief, Ansyaad Mbai, said on Saturday that "the attacks were clearly linked to Noordin Mohammed" who is wanted for plotting the Bali bombings of 2002. Indonesian police say the homemade bombs used in the attack were identical to those used in previous attacks linked to Noordin.
The fugitive militant is already wanted by Malaysian and Indonesian authorities for his alleged involvement in several bomb attacks in Jakarta and Bali. Noordin also known as Top was said to be a key recruiter and financier for the Jemaah Islamiah militant group and is now thought to have set up his own splinter group.
The attacks on the Marriott Hotel and the nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel in central Jakarta's business district on Friday killed at least nine people and injured more than 50 others. Five foreigners are known to be among the dead while several more were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Jakarta has been targeted by militants several times over the past years. The deadly attacks on two clubs in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people including several Australian tourists.