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| Southeast Asia |
| JI member describes role in Mariott bombing |
| 2004-08-03 |
| An Indonesian militant told a court on Tuesday he helped one of Asia's most wanted men to bomb a luxury Jakarta hotel last year because he hated Americans and wanted to avenge injustices in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Ismail, 23, who is accused of involvement in the planning as well as execution of the attack, said he played the role of assistant to British-educated Malaysian engineer Azahari in the August 5 bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel that killed 12 people and injured 150 others. "I helped Azahari," a relaxed-looking Ismail told the South Jakarta Court. "I was in charge of surveying the Marriott." "I only followed orders. Azhari is the one who knows everything ... I was only helping him." Asked by the judge why the Marriott was selected as a target, Ismail, wearing a blue checked shirt and blue trousers, said he hated Americans and Australians. "At the time I thought that I would help my brothers in Islam in Palestine and Afghanistan ... Azahari said the hotel belongs to America," Ismail said, adding that he now regretted his actions because almost all those killed and injured were fellow Indonesians. He said he saw Azahari pack a car with explosives which was then driven away by someone else. Police say the mini-van used in the attack was driven by a suicide bomber. "I saw Azhari putting the explosive materials in a car and later I drove Azhari to the site of the bombing ... I was around 250 metres (800 feet) away when the bombing happened," he said. Ismail said he met Azahari in the late 1990s while studying in neighbouring Malaysia. Ismail was arrested last November and his trial began in May. The charges against him carry the death penalty. Police have said Ismail was part of a group that had been planning more attacks at selected foreign targets in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. Ismail told the court on Tuesday he had surveyed a Citibank branch as well as the Marriott, but gave no details. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |