9 terror suspects arrested in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- A Singaporean who met several times with Osama bin Laden was among nine terror suspects arrested Wednesday in western Indonesia, a local television station reported.

A cache of powerful bombs packed with bullets was also seized in the raid.

The men initially planned to attack Western tourists on Sumatra Island but changed their minds after realizing too many Indonesian lives could be lost, TVOne quoted anti-terror police as saying. They reportedly were considering a bombing in the capital, Jakarta, instead.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has been hit in recent years by a string of suicide bombings that have killed more than 240 people. The regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed in those attacks.

The last bombing occurred on Bali in late 2005, and earlier this year the United States lifted a travel warning imposed in 2000, citing improvements in security.

A police general, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, told The Associated Press 22 bombs were seized Wednesday in Palembang, a coastal city on Sumatra, the largest weighing 11 pounds.

Some were packed with bullets, rather than Jemaah Islamiyah's hallmark ball-bearings, probably to maximize the impact of the blast.

Sixteen were ready to explode, Kompas newspaper reported Thursday, adding that dozens of pounds of explosive powder, grenades and several series of electric detonators also were recovered.

The arrests began Saturday in the Sumatran village of Sekayu when police captured a Singaporean terror suspect, Abu Hazam, who allegedly met with bin Laden on several occasions and received training in Afghanistan, TVOne and Kompas reported. Few other details were provided.

The man, also known as Omar, tipped police off to the whereabouts of two other suspects, according to TVOne and Kompas. The two suspects, Abdul Rahman and an unidentified alleged bomb-maker, were arrested Monday. The remaining six were netted Wednesday in a series of nearby raids. Their nationalities were not immediately known.

Lawyers have already agreed to represent the alleged militants and will be present when police begin formal questioning, according to TPM, a group of attorneys specializing in defending terror suspects.

Indonesian anti-terror laws stipulate that if sufficient evidence is not found after seven days, they must be released.

The suspects allegedly had ties with Southeast Asia's most wanted terror suspect, Noordin Top, who is believed to head a breakaway faction of Jemaah Islamiyah that is committed to al Qaeda-style attacks on Western civilian targets.

Police documents obtained recently by The Associated Press indicate Jemaah Islamiyah has maintained the ability and desire to forge international links despite a crackdown that has resulted in the arrest and convictions of hundreds of terrorists.

All nine suspects were flown to the capital Thursday morning, where they will be charged with violating anti-terrorism laws. If found guilty, they face a maximum penalty of death. Black masks covered their faces, as they were led onto the police aircraft in Palembang.

Police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira confirmed the arrests and the recovery of explosives, but would not elaborate, saying the investigation was ongoing.

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