Indonesian Who Admits Bombings Escapes Jail

An Indonesian man who confessed to involvement in bombings in Manila that killed 22 people escaped from jail early Monday along with two suspected Muslim extremists, police said.

Fathur Rohman Al Ghozi, a reputed leader of Southeast Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, and the other two men escaped from police intelligence custody, National Police Chief Hermogenes Ebdane said.

The escape took place before dawn from the heavily secured command building at the national police headquarters in Manila. Ebdane said three policemen guarding the men were being investigated, and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered them fired at once.

The escape was particularly embarrassing because Australian Prime Minister John Howard was in Manila to provide counter-terrorism assistance.

Chief Supt. Jesus Verzosa, whose national police intelligence group had custody of Al Ghozi, has offered to resign, according to Ebdane, who did not say whether he had accepted.

Ebdane identified the other escapees as Abdul Edris and Merang Abante. Abante, an alleged senior member of the Abu Sayyaf group, was captured in January. He carried an $18,800 bounty.

“If you have a gun and you see them, you can shoot them,” Ebdane said as he showed pictures of the fugitives to reporters.

Police say Al Ghozi has confessed to involvement in five bombings in Manila on Dec. 30, 2000. Al Ghozi was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a separate charge of explosives possession.