Maker of Bali Bombs Shows How

An Indonesian who admitted constructing the bombs that killed 192 people in Bali last year said Tuesday that he was proud of his group’s skills but now feels sorry for the victims, and he begged forgiveness.

Ali Imron, one of the main suspects held by Indonesian police investigating the Oct. 12 bombings, told a Bali news conference that although the majority of the victims were Australian tourists, the real target was the United States.

“Our target is America and its allies because they are the international terrorists,” Imron said.

Wearing a fake suicide bomb vest over his blue prison uniform, Imron demonstrated during the surreal news conference at police headquarters how one of the bombs was assembled.

Unlike police in Western nations, Indonesian authorities often give the media considerable access to suspects.

“Our capabilities as Indonesians are something to be proud of, but they were used for a wrong purpose,” said Imron, who claimed he learned how to make bombs in Afghanistan. “I hope that there will be no more arguments about who really detonated the Bali bombs. In my heart, I regret this.”

The case’s chief investigator, I Made Mangku Pastika, said the demonstration was meant to dispel doubts that the results of the investigation were being fabricated.