Top Fugitive in Bali Bombings Held, Police Say

Police have arrested the most wanted fugitive in last year’s Bali nightclub bombings as he plotted more terrorist attacks with other militants allied with Al Qaeda, police said Monday.

The announcement came as prosecutors recommended a death sentence in the trial of Amrozi bin H. Nurhasyim, the first suspect to face trial for the Oct. 12 attacks on the resort island, which killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

The arrest of “Idris,” whose real name is Jhoni Endrawan, is seen as a major victory for Indonesia in its fight against Islamic militancy. Washington has criticized Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, for not acting to stamp out terrorism and on Friday renewed its travel warning for the country.

“[Idris] has confessed to his entire role in the bombing,” said Maj. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, Bali’s police chief.

Pastika said the alleged bomber was part of a gang that robbed a bank last month in the city of Medan, on the island of Sumatra. Idris was arrested in Medan on June 12 with 10 other alleged gang members, all of whom have been accused of belonging to the regional Islamic militant group, Jemaah Islamiah, allegedly tied to Al Qaeda.