Bali bomb suspect ‘kills himself’

INDONESIAN security forces raided the suspected hideout of one of Asia’s most wanted terrorist suspects yesterday, fighting a gun and grenade battle with militants inside.

The al-Qaida-linked terrorist leader was either shot dead or blew himself up to avoid capture, officials said.

Azahari bin Husin was believed to have been killed in the operation in Malang, about 530 miles east of Jakarta, said senior police official General Gorries Mere.

Local TV stations reported Azahari, who officials have said always wore explosives to avoid being captured alive, blew himself up.

“We suspect it is him,” said Gen Mere. Azahari is accused of involvement in four terrorist attacks in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.