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.

Indonesian officials said they wanted the United States to allow them to question Hambali over his role in blasts in seven Indonesian cities, in an effort to prevent further extremist attacks.

Hambali’s location is being kept a closely guarded secret. Thailand’s defence minister said on Friday that he had been flown to Indonesia. But Thaksin later told reporters: “if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.” But he disclosed that the 37-year-old Islamic scholar was being interrogated by officials from “allied countries,” including Thailand.

“We are taking turns interrogating him and we are also exchanging information,” he said. Thaksin said Thai authorities had arrested “two or three” suspects before tracking down Hambali.

Meanwhile, nine people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Marriot Hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 people and injured nearly 150, the Indonesian national police chief said yesterday. General Da’i Bachtiar said the nine suspects had been picked up in separate raids.