Terror Suspect Eludes Indonesia Police
One of Southeast Asia’s most wanted suspected terrorists escaped capture when security forces raided his hide-out before dawn today, killing two militants and arresting two, police said.
Malaysian fugitive Noordin Mohammed Top, regarded as a key leader of the militant group Jemaah Islamiah, fled before heavily armed police arrived at the house on the island of Java, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bahrul Alam told El Shinta radio.
Authorities began staking out the location in Binangun, a village in Central Java province, three months ago, “but when they launched their raid at around 3 a.m., he was gone,” Alam said, as he headed to the scene by helicopter from the capital, Jakarta.
Two suspects were killed in a shootout, National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto told El Shinta.
Noordin is accused of involvement in at least four attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings.
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