SOUTH East Asia's most wanted terror suspect accused of directing the 2002 Bali bombings may have evaded a massive manhunt and fled Indonesia, according to police interrogation documents.
The documents, obtained by the Associated Press, include interviews with two senior Indonesian members of the Jeemah Islamiah network, the same network suspected terrorist Noordin Top belongs to. Indonesia's Abu Husna and Agus Purwantoro were arrested en route to Malaysia in March during their escape bid to link up with terrorist groups in the Middle East.
Husna and Purwantoro told investigators an Algerian contact in Jakarta helped them obtain plane tickets, fake passports and gave them contacts in Syria, according to the investigation reports. While discussing Husna's planned journey, the Algerian "Jafar" is quoted as saying: "Do you know that Noordin Top has escaped?"
Excerpted
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23723072-2,00.html
German Special Forces in Afghanistan Let Taliban Commander Escape
May 19, 2008
German special forces had an important Taliban commander in their sights in Afghanistan. But he escaped -- because the Germans were not authorized to use lethal force. The German government's hands-tied approach to the war is causing friction with its NATO allies.
Excerpted
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,554033,00.html
New jail wing for Britain's most dangerous terrorists
19/05/2008
Britain's most dangerous al-Qaeda extremists are being moved to a special terror wing to boost security. The move follows a rise in violence involving Islamic extremists behind bars.
The new terror wing at Wakefield jail, West Yorks, will be similar to those once used to segregate IRA supporters and loyalist paramilitary inmates. Some convicts in Belmarsh, South East London, have been moved to the section.
Excerpted
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/05/19/jail-wing-to-handle-al-qaeda-89520-20422494/
Police have arrested 11 people suspected of planning terrorist attacks in Morocco and in Belgium, the MAP news agency announced on Monday. They terror suspects were picked up in the cities of Nador and Fez where they were based. One of those detained is a Moroccan who lives in Belgium.
The police say the group were also involved in recruiting for al-Qaeda in Iraq and to camps of al-Qaeda's branch in North Africa (AQIM), MAP said. The arrests came three months after security services broke up another 35-member terror cell, led by Abdelkader Belliraj, a Moroccan living in Belgium.
The Belliraj network was reportedly preparing to carry out acts of violence in the country and had links with organisations operating in Morocco and abroad, according to police cited by MAP.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2177527088
Additional info here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080519/ap_on_re_af/morocco_terrorism
Thanks for the info in post no. 761 Oorang regarding “Fears Noordin Top evades massive manhunt.
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Note: Photos included.
REWARDS FOR JUSTICE - POSTER - SEEKING INFORMATION - SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/index.cfm?page=Noordin&language=english
Wanted
Noordin Mohammad Top
Date of birth: August 11, 1968
Place of birth: Johor, Malaysia
Sex: Male
Nationality: Malaysian
Aliases: Noordin Muh Top, Noordin Mat Top, Noordin Din Moch Top
Noordin Mohammad Top is one of the most dangerous members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) that is still at large. Noordin is believed to be the top recruiter and strategist and also an important fundraiser for JI.
Noordin has been one of the top targets of regional security forces, but he has repeatedly escaped their grasp. A Malaysian national, he along with his compatriot, the late Dr. Azahari bin Husin, were the masterminds behind many of the suicide attacks to hit Indonesia, including the Bali bombings in October of 2005 injuring several Americans. Some of the other attacks that he is suspected of having orchestrated are the October 12, 2002 attack in the resort town of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali which killed 202 people and injured a further 209, the 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing which occurred on August 5, 2003 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta which took place on September 9, 2004 in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing several people and wounding over 140 others.
Noordin has been the leading proponent of targeting Western interests in Indonesia. In addition to the two Bali and two Jakarta attacks, Noordin has ordered his operatives to conduct reconnaissance on a large foreign-owned power plant southeast of Surabaya. In January 2006, he announced the formation of a new organization, Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad, although it is still unclear whether this is a distinctly independent organization from JI.
Noordin has been designated by the U.S. Treasury Department and the UN Security Council as a terrorist financier. He remains one of the most important JI figures at large. He is a charismatic leader and a recruiter, who has proven to be innovative and single-minded in his desire to implement the al-Qa’ida line and target Western interests.
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Note: Photos included.
FBI.GOV - POSTER - SEEKING INFORMATION - SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/top.htm
Noordin Mohammad Top
Aliases: Noordin Muh Top, Noordin Mat Top, Noordin Din Moch Top
DESCRIPTION
Date of Birth Used: August 11, 1968 Hair: Unknown
Place of Birth: Johor, Malaysia Eyes: Unknown
Height: Unknown Sex: Male
Weight: Unknown Complexion: Unknown
Remarks: Top is reported to be an explosives expert. Additionally, he may wear glasses and have facial hair.
DETAILS
Noordin Mohammad Top is reportedly an officer, recruiter, bombmaker, and trainer for the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group that was involved in the bombings of a Bali nightclub, a Jakarta hotel, and the Australian Embassy in Indonesia between 2002 and 2004.