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| Southeast Asia |
| Raids foiled terror plot |
| 2010-05-15 |
| [Straits Times] POLICE yesterday announced that they had foiled a mass terror plot meant to be carried out on Aug 17, and uncovered a stash of weapons and cash meant for the operation. A map of Singapore's MRT network was among the stash, but police did not elaborate on its significance. National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri said that the attackers had intended to assassinate President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and government officials on Aug 17 as they attended Indonesia's Independence Day celebration in Jakarta. The men also planned to target US President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to visit the country later this year, officials said. Finally, the plot included a siege on upmarket hotels - similar to the terror attacks on Mumbai hotels in November 2008 - to kill foreigners, especially Americans. By killing key Cabinet members and causing mass chaos, the militants thought they could take over the government and turn Indonesia 'from a democratic nation to a nation under syariah (Islamic) law', said General Danuri. The plot's details were revealed in recent police interrogations of suspected militants, he said in a televised press conference. |
| Posted by:Fred |