Posted on 12/18/2002 1:59:54 PM PST by knighthawk
INDONESIAN authorities have released the 'terror handbook' followed by the Bali bombers to kill almost 200 people.
The chilling blueprint for the blasts – detailing step by step how to assemble and detonate the explosive devices – was revealed yesterday.
Indonesian police said the manual, which was found at a house in Java during the arrest of massacre mastermind Mukhlas earlier this month, was followed to the letter by the bombers.
"What is stated in the document, and the materials detailed in it, is exactly what was found [at the bomb site], so what has been done by this terrorist team is according to this document," said Police Brigadier-General Edward Aritonang.
Described by Mr Aritonang as the "terrorist handbook", the document is about 50 pages long and full of instructions and diagrams.
These include details on how to assemble the car bomb that was driven to the Sari Club and detailed drawings demonstrating how to wire the mobile telephones – used to spark the bombs – to two batteries and a detonator.
Detailed instructions on how to mix various chemical ingredients, including potassium chlorate, to make the Sari Club bomb are also outlined.
One of the instructions states: "You must take out the seat of the car" in order to fit the fertiliser bomb correctly into the shell of the vehicle – a procedure that forensic investigators say had been carried out to the van involved in the bombings.
It also contains a "dos and don'ts" list, which enabled the bombers to detonate the devices at the exact time they wanted.
Mr Aritonang said Mukhlas confessed to being one of three people with access to the book, which was kept in a secure room in the house in which it was found.
He did not reveal the names of the two others. The book was part of a library of terror-related material.
"The documents that were found included various methods of creating bombs, including car bombs," Mr Aritonang said. "Some of the books are on Jemaah Islamiyah, how to make a bomb, how to create poison, and military reports.
"There is also a topography book, which features various areas of Indonesia and drawings of weapons."
Mr Aritonang said Mukhlas admitted to owning the material during interrogations that continued yesterday.
At one stage the mastermind was paraded in front of the press as he was transferred between police buildings – escorted, as usual, by dozens of heavily armed police. Security has remained extremely tight since his capture.
"There were only three people who had access to this room where these documents were being held and one of them was Mukhlas. This has been confessed by Mukhlas," Mr Aritonang said.
Also yesterday, police outlined the structure of the terrorist squad and the roles played by various members.
At the top of the chain was Mukhlas, described as the "controller" of the operation, then Imam Samudra, who was given the title "commander".
Below these two were various men. One was "in charge of gathering the appointed personnel" while another – almost certainly Amrozi – was described by police as being the "provider of the materials".
Then came the actual manufacturer of the bombs, the "executor" who carried out the bombings and the "logistics chief" who was in charge of such things as renting houses for the group.
In relation to the man Iqbal, who police suspect died after planting the first bomb inside Paddy's Bar, Mr Aritonang said investigators were still not sure whether his death was intended as a suicide bombing, or whether he was unexpectedly caught in the blast.
"Till now, the investigation team do not have any solid evidence or belief that it was a suicide or martyr bombing," Mr Atritonang said.
The reason for the doubt is because of several witnesses who stated a man put down a bag in the bar, then proceeded to leave, but was called back by other patrons who believed he had forgotten his belongings.
The bomber was then forced to pick up the bag and move it to another area of the bar, wasting valuable time that would have been needed to get clear of the explosion, police believe.
Mr Aritonang also revealed yesterday police had begun inspecting a laptop computer belonging to Samudra, but were not sure if material relating to the bombing would be found.
NO RUBBISH – SAFETY FIRST AT RAILWAY STATIONS By NICOLLE SHEPHERD
THE war on terror's impact on our lifestyles has now hit rail commuters across Sydney.
In a bid to foil potential bombers, State Rail has removed garbage bins from stations.
Over the past six weeks, all rubbish bins have been removed from the entire underground network, Central Station and other major interchanges such as Strathfield, Chatswood and Epping stations.
The counter-terrorism move mirrors that of major overseas cities such as New York, London and Paris where rubbish bins have not been on rail networks for some time.
The result may be safer travel, but it is an undoubted inconvenience.
A State Rail spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph the measure was the same as that implemented in Sydney during the Olympic period and would remain in place until the Government advised the bins could return.
Moveable "wheelie" bins are being used as an alternative on country platforms at Central Station.
State Rail has implemented a range of security initiatives since the Bali bombings, including the roll-out of more than 700 emergency help point facilities on 306 stations.
Marked in bright orange, the assistance facilities are radio-linked to 17 remote monitoring points across the rail network.
They are operated by security staff who have the ability to transfer calls through to the police.
The help points are not linked directly to police because too many people have been incorrectly using them to ask for directions.
Each help point is monitored by a video surveillance camera.
At Town Hall station, all lockers have been removed and, at Central, people wishing to hire a locker must provide photo identification.
State Rail staff have been advised to be more vigilant of suspicious parcels, people and activity.
But the spokeswoman said that, to date, there had been no direct threats to the railway system.
Meanwhile, police yesterday reassured a nervous public not to be concerned by today's mock terror attack in Sydney.
Police and government agencies have fielded a large number of calls from people expressing concern over the counter-terrorism exercise.
Operation Apollo, which is being held to test government and emergency services' reaction skills to a terror attack, will take place within the confines of three separate buildings in Parramatta, Alexandria and Sydney this morning.
Police said that the exercise would not affect the public's work or transport arrangements.
HOWARD'S PROMISE TO PROTECT AUSTRALIA
PRIME Minister John Howard has assured Australians that any commitment he makes to a war against Iraq will not leave Australia unprotected.
Mr Howard confirmed that detailed contingency planning for a military campaign in Iraq was under way – but he refused to discuss the plan for a March attack revealed by The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
"The true position is that at a political level we have not taken any decision to be involved and the occasion for taking that decision has not yet arisen and I hope that doesn't arise," Mr Howard said.
"I do want to make it clear that if we were involved either here or indeed anywhere else in military conflict distant from Australian shores, the contribution we would make would not in any way weaken our capacity to deal with the problem on our own doorstep," he said.
If Australia does go to war its contribution will be limited to a small contingent of SAS, fighter planes, sea patrol aircraft and aerial tankers, plus several warships fighting alongside the main US and British forces.
Yesterday's Daily Telegraph told how top brass had been ordered to prepare for a March invasion – and we revealed how SAS troops, fresh from service in Afghanistan, have been training for an Iraq conflict.
Australian officers are already working on the plans alongside US commanders in Qatar, in the Gulf.
That would mean exposing troops to the hottest part of the Iraqi desert summer but according to Australian soldiers that would not be a problem.
Mr Howard said military force was a "last resort" position for Australia, adding: "I've indicated already that naturally the defence forces are involved in some contingency arrangements. They must do that in the event that they're called upon."
Meanwhile, British troops could be in action against Iraq by the end of January, according to UK press reports.
Up to 30,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen are on notice to move in 30 days' time, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed.
THE Australian embassy in Manila will reopen soon, diplomats agreed yesterday.
The decision came as Australia and the Philippines plan a counter-terrorism accord.
Australia and Canada abruptly abandoned their Philippine missions last month, citing credible threats of an attackAnd RAF pilots may launch air strikes in mid-February.
His comments come as Defence Minister Robert Hill takes his long awaited review of Australia's defence needs back to the drawing board for a third time.
Senator Hill was rebuked by his cabinet colleagues again on Monday and will not release the review until next year.
He was rolled last month in Cabinet over plans to boost defence spending by a billion dollars to cover the war against terrorism.
Senator Hill, who criticised officials for presenting "rubbery" figures on defence purchasing, has been told budget increases must be kept below $200 million.
Further savings will be made by delaying or cancelling some large scale purchases including upgrades to submarines, warships and buying unmanned aerial vehicles.
Uncertainty has surrounded the review with cabinet split between the Hill camp who want to equip the military to operate overseas in coalition with the US and their opponents who want it to fulfil its primary mission of defending the nation.
Meanwhile, Mr Howard said he was hopeful that war would be averted.
"I still remain hopeful as does the leadership of the American administration that the process of satisfactorily disarming Saddam Hussein will take place through the UN," he said.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Robert Hill said the government would not comment on the nature of planning at this stage.
The war plans are well advanced to fit in with the American timetable which starts with a green light from President George W Bush early in January.
The war would begin about eight weeks later.
Up to 60,000 US troops and heavy armour are already in place and they would be supplemented by a massive air and sea lift once the "go" was issued.
Up to five US aircraft carrier battle groups will soon be in place in the Gulf plus a British navy task force.
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