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Police rush to identify Bali suicide bombers

By By Chris Brummit in Bali
October 03, 2005 09:42 IST

The police on Monday rushed to identify the remains of three suicide bombers in the deadly blasts that killed 30 people on Bali island, while seeking three accomplices and enlisting a former operative of southeast Asia's top terror group to help find the masterminds.

The bodies of the attackers believed responsible for the three blasts Saturday were blown away, but their heads were intact, Indonesian anti-terror official Maj Gen Ansyaad Mbai told AP.

Mbai said police believed that at least three other people were involved in the attacks, which injured more than 100 people, and believed the suspects were still on Bali. However, he did not say whether they included Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamed Top, both Malaysian fugitives who some suspect masterminded the attacks.

Mbai also revealed that police believe the bombs were detonated by mobile phone, with accomplices working nearby, calling the bombers as they entered the cafes to trigger the blasts.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks at two packed seafood cafes in Bali's Jimbaran beach resort and at the Raja Cafe in the bustling tourist center of Kuta.

They were the worst on the island since bombers struck Bali nightclubs in 2002, killing 202 people -- mostly foreigners, in an attack blamed on terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, whose members said they were getting back at the West over poor treatment of Muslims.

Authorities have enlisted the help of a former Jemaah Islamiyah operative to help track down the masterminds in the latests attacks. Nasir Abbas, who has testified against former colleagues in trials, arrived on Bali two hours after the blasts, working as an informant for police.

"Police are using him to help find which group is behind this operation, former terrorists can help give details," Mbai said.

Police are also reviewing video footage, which shows one of the suspected bombers clutching a backpack as he strolled past diners at the Raja Cafe moments before the blast.

Twelve Indonesians, one Australian and one Japanese man were among the 30 people killed on Saturday. Officials were trying to identify the nationalities of the other corpses in the morgue, a hospital statement said.

The 101 wounded included 49 Indonesians, 17 Australians, six Americans, six Koreans, four Japanese, officials said.

 

By Chris Brummit in Bali

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