Bali bombing’s key suspect says he was ‘delighted’ the device exploded

THE key suspect in the Bali nightclub attack that killed nearly 200 people said yesterday he was “delighted” that the bomb exploded.

Reporters and photographers were allowed to be present during part of a meeting between the suspect, Amrozi, and Indonesia's National Police Chief, General Da'i Bachtiar.

"I am delighted that it successfully exploded," Amrozi told Bachtiar.

Officials said Amrozi who was arrested last week at his home in Tenggulun had admitted he owned the Mitsubishi mini-van laden with at least 110 pounds of explosives that blew up outside a packed nightclub on October 12.

Amrozi, who uses only one name, said his role was only to purchase the explosive materials and that others built the bomb.

"I apologise to my parents, brothers and sisters and other relatives over the incident that has caused so much trouble," he said. "Those involved were me and my younger brother Ali Imran."

According to authorities, Amrozi has confessed to being a field commander for Jemaah Islamiyah, which has been linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network and reportedly wants to form a massive Islamic state across Southeast Asia.

Bachtiar said yesterday it was "very possible" that Amrozi's older brother Mukhlas is Jemaah Islamiyah's new operations chief, taking over from Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali.

Several security experts have said Hambali likely masterminded the Bali blasts. According to Bachtiar, witnesses in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have said Hambali left Malaysia for Pakistan after the September 11 attacks.

"We received confirmation that Mukhlas was an important figure (in the group) after we interviewed Amrozi," Bachtiar said.

The state-run Antara news agency quoted the country's intelligence chief, Hendropriyono, as saying that Mukhlas was Hambali's replacement.