Militant confessed to Bali bombing, say Indonesian police

THE alleged mastermind of the Bali blasts that killed nearly 200 people has confessed to involvement in those and other bombings that have rocked Indonesia in the past two years, the country’s national police chief said yesterday.

“He confessed to the bombings in Batam, Jakarta and Bali,” said General Da’i Bachtiar, referring to both the Bali nightclub blasts and a series of other bombings.

Imam Samudra, in his early to mid-30s, was arrested on Wednesday at the port of Merak as he attempted to flee from Java island.

Bachtiar spoke to reporters after interrogating Samudra yesterday at a police station near Merak.

Bachtiar said that Samudra was a key planner in the October 12 Bali blasts, adding that the militant had “decided when and where” to place the explosive devices.