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| Southeast Asia |
| Arrests prevented second "Bali" bombing |
| 2003-01-31 |
| The detention of suspects after last October's Bali nightclub attack stopped them from carrying out another atrocity, Australian police have claimed. Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said the militant group Jemaah Islamiah, widely blamed for the Bali bombing, had plotted a second attack in Indonesia late last year. On the face of it, this seems obvious. If the Thirty suspects have been arrested in connection with the twin bomb blasts on Kuta Beach, including the reputed mastermind Imam Samudra and Ali Imron, who police say drove one of the vans packed with explosives. Both of whom deserve a dance with a rope, just as soon as the giggle juice wears off. Mr Keelty declined to say where in Indonesia the second attack was to have occurred. I'll bet I could narrow it down by looking at a map of popular tourist attractions. "It's clear that they were not only sophisticated but they were very determined in what they were going to do," he said. Determined I'll buy. Sophisticated only in the most technical sense. "If it wasn't for the work of the Indonesian national police, helped by Australian police, I think we would have probably had another event occur using the skills and the knowledge that Jemaah Islamiah has accumulated over time." "Hey mates, we're here to 'help' you. Now you blokes stand right over there -- stand still, mate, I'd hate to have to hurt you -- whilst we go to work. After we're done with 'em we'll give 'em to you for the press conference." Mr Keelty added that there was growing evidence linking a senior Islamic cleric, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, to the Bali bombing. Another one who should be dancing at the end of a rope. But first the cleric will be tried or released on charges linked to a series of church bombings in Indonesia in December 2000 and an alleged assassination plot against Megawati Sukarnoputri before she became Indonesian president. One way or another, I don't think Abu will breathe the fresh air of the free world again. |
| Posted by:Steve White |