9 arrested in fatal Jakarta hotel blast

MSNBC.Com (AP) ^ | 8/17/2003 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Bobby777]

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 17 — Security forces surrounded hotels, churches and foreign offices Sunday as Indonesia celebrated its Independence Day amid warnings of terrorist attacks after the arrest of al-Qaida’s alleged point man in Southeast Asia. After ceremonies at the presidential palace in Jakarta, national police chief Gen. Da’i Bachtiar announced that nine suspects had been arrested in connection with the Aug. 5 attack on the Marriott Hotel in the capital, in which 12 people were killed and nearly 150 injured.

BACHTIAR SAID the nine had been picked up in separate raids over the past week. He gave no further details.

Authorities in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, stepped up security to prevent any terrorist attacks on Independence Day, which is celebrated with street parties, rallies and games. A specialized anti-terror team was deployed around the presidential palace.

Intelligence reports had said militants might strike places where foreigners gather, and police backed by military troops were stationed at international hotels, shopping malls, bars, Christian churches and foreign companies’ offices.

[Bobby777]

Soldiers deployed Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of enhanced security for the country's Independence Day celebrations.

[Bobby777]

just between the Bali bombing and this event, 214 killed and 450+ injured ...

[Bobby777]

terrorism in the Southern Hemisphere ping

[dennisw]

Islam .... as wicked as it seems.

[Bobby777]

this one was bad ... but Bali was just shocking in its carnage ... terrible ... 9/11, of course, even more so ...

I remember in 2000 when the Intifada against Israel began ... I remember the pictures of carnage on Yahoo! news services ... even many of my associates did not believe it would expand to other parts of the world ... sadly, it has become terribly true ...

[dennisw]

Mecca is the fountain of sorrow. One day it will be obliterated and Islam will become more reasonable. Islam will not make Jihad on it's brothers.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Jemian]

All's been quiet in my neck of the woods. I put about six hours in prep work at school. When classes open next I'll do my usual bomb check before kids arrive.