Indonesian terror network Jemaah Islamiah has claimed responsibility for the suspected suicide bombing in Jakarta. The al-Qaeda-linked JI group, also blamed for last October's Bali bomb attack, has been widely suspected of bombing Jakarta's luxury JW Marriott Hotel yesterday. That suspicion appeared confirmed today by remarks published by Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. "This is a message for ... all our enemies that, if they execute any of our Muslim brothers, we will continue this campaign of terror in Indonesia and the region," the paper quoted an unnamed Jemaah Islamiah operative as saying.
| Amrozi's sentencing is Thursday... |
The bombing came ahead of tomorrow's sentencing of Bali bombing accused Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, who faces the death penalty for his role in the attack which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. The governor of Jakarta, Sutiyoso, said it was "very likely" carried out by a suicide bomber. The national police chief, Dai Bachtiar, refused to speculate on the cause, but confirmed the vehicle was moving at the time of the explosion. The attack happened shortly after the alleged leader of Jemaah Islamiah took the stand for the first time yesterday at his treason trial over a series of bombings in 2000. Abu Bakar Bashir denies any link to terrorism. |