Former Air Force man 'made Bali bomb' - report

A former member of the Indonesian Air Force has admitted building the bomb that levelled a Bali nightclub, it was reported today.

The man said he regretted the loss of life, but has reportedly not told investigators who commissioned him to build the device.

The suspect, who is being held by Indonesian authorities, learned to make explosives while serving in the air force, the International Herald Tribune said on its Website.

It said he was later kicked off the force for misconduct.

US Ambassador Ralph Boyce said he had read about the reported confession but could not confirm it.

National Police Chief Da’i Bachtiar said traces of the military explosive C-4 - a puttylike plastic explosive used in the attack two years ago on the USS Cole in Yemen – were found at the scene.

In August 2000, the home of the Philippine ambassador in Jakarta was bombed using similar materials. Philippine intelligence officials blamed that attack on Jemmah Islamiyah.

In past cases in Indonesia, whenever C-4 has been found in any bombing it has been traced to the military, raising speculation that the explosive was bought or stolen from military stocks.

An Indonesian security source told the newspaper that his government learned a week before the bombing that Muslim extremists were planning to carry out an attack.

Security was heightened at 60 locations around the country but not in Bali, because authorities did not suspect that militants would strike the tropical resort island, the official said.