Indonesia has DNA of key 'terrorist' suspects

Jakarta, Mar 26: Indonesia has DNA samples from relatives of major terrorism suspects to use in investigation and identification efforts, police officials said today at the opening of a new DNA laboratory.

The facility was developed jointly with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and Australia provided 1.6 million dollar in equipment for it.

Indonesian national police chief General Sutanto told reporters that Jakarta had asked for samples of DNA from families of ''Malaysian terrorists''.

Police spokesman Sisno Adiwinoto told reporters those included Noordin Top, a Malaysian national considered a mastermind of Islamic militant bombing attacks in Indonesia.

Top has been on the run for years and has been called the most wanted fugitive in Southeast Asia.

''...we have his sample from his family,'' Adiwinoto said. ''We store that in our DNA bank.'' Top was once considered a leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), blamed for the 2002 Bali blasts that killed 202 people, many of them Australian tourists, as well as other attacks including one aimed at Australia's embassy in Jakarta.

AFP commissioner Mick Keelty said the laboratory's creation was an example of the close cooperation between Australian and Indonesian police in pursuing violent militants.

''What we try to do is keep working together, because (there is) a lot of work to be done,'' he said.

Indonesia has already arrested hundreds for involvement in bombing strikes in the country or links to groups held responsible like JI.

The crackdown and differences among members over tactics have led to changes in and splits from JI, and Top's links to the group now are murky.

Anti-terror raids on several hideouts of suspected Islamic militants in Indonesia's Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces last week prevented 20 attacks, police have said.

Among items uncovered in the raids was a book with instructions on assembling bombs, Adiwinoto said.

An estimated 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam, giving it the world's highest number of Muslims. Most are considered moderate, but a militant minority has been increasingly vocal.

Reuters