Hambali ‘planning attack on US interests at summit’

ALLEGED extremist leader Hambali was targeting US interests before he was captured, Thailand said as Indonesia said nine people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Marriot Hotel in Jakarta.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra alleged that other members of the extremists Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network under Hambali’s command had inspected US interests as well as venues for the forthcoming Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Thailand in October.

“Hambali was here to seek refuge, as well as to command and co-ordinate the operation and arrange payment for the perpetrators,” Thaksin told reporters. “The US was the centre of this,” he said, adding that Thailand would redouble its efforts to protect US interests including its embassy here, the second largest US mission in the world. Hambali, the alleged architect of the Bali bombings and a string of other bloody attacks in Asia, was captured in the central Thai city of Ayutthaya on Monday and taken into US custody, drawing relief and elation across the region.