TWO TERROR SUSPECTS REPORTEDLY KILLED IN POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001713 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/TIA/ITA NSC FOR J.BADER, D.WALTON DS FOR COMMAND CENTER, FRONT OFFICE KUALA LUMPUR FOR G.CHAPMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC ID SUBJECT: TWO TERROR SUSPECTS REPORTEDLY KILLED IN POLICE OPERATION REF: A. JAKARTA POL/OPS CENTER 10-09-09 TELCON ¶B. JAKARTA 1690 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Exact details remain a bit sketchy, but Indonesian National Police (INP) reportedly killed two hotly-pursued terrorists, Saifuddin Jaelani and Mohammad Syahir, in a counterterrorist operation conducted near Jakarta, October 9. The two brothers were close associates of terrorist leader Noordin M. Top (slain by police September 16-17) and were implicated in the July 17 bombings of two hotels in Jakarta. This is the latest in a number of successful police operations directed at dismantling Top's Jemmah Islamiyah-linked terror network. END SUMMARY. TWO TERRORISTS REPORTEDLY KILLED ¶2. (C) Indonesian police have reportedly killed two terrorists. The two, Saifuddin Jaelani and Mohammad Syahir, are brothers and known to police as associates of Noordin M. Top, Indonesia's most-wanted terrorist until his death in a police action on September 16-17. The two reportedly died during a police raid on a boarding house located in Ciputat, Tangerang, Banten Province (a suburb of Jakarta's) on October ¶9. ¶3. (C) Pending a formal police announcement of what exactly occurred, details remain a bit sketchy. National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri confirmed to reporters that the raid had taken place. When asked by reporters whether Saifuddin was one of the terror suspects captured or killed, Danuri responded "God willing, it looks like it." LINKS TO JULY 17 BOMBINGS ¶4. (C) The two terrorists who are presumed dead were "most wanted" by the authorities. The police have been aggressively pursuing the two brothers for their apparent involvement in the July 17 twin bombings of the Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels in Jakarta, which killed nine people (including the two suicide bombers) and injured 53 people. Saifuddin was suspected of being a key organizer of the hotel bombings, an allegation supported by the recent discovery of a video on Noordin M. Top's laptop that reportedly showed Saifuddin taping the suicide bombers in the vicinity of the hotel shortly before the attacks. ¶5. (C) Police released a letter this month reportedly written by Saifuddin in which he claimed to be the new leader of the Southeast Asia branch of the Al Qaeda network. Saifuddin is believed to have studied in Yemen for several years. Syahir, the older brother of Saifuddin, may have worked as a technician for Garuda, Indonesia's national airline, and is suspected of involvement in the September 2004 Australian Embassy bombing. ¶6. (C) There are other links. One of the terrorists' sisters, Sucihani, was married to Ibrohim, the florist who helped bring the bombs into the hotels and who died during an August 7-8 police raid on a safe house in Temanggung, Central Java. Another sister, Ery, was married for a short time to Amir Abdillah, who police arrested on August 5 after connecting him to the July 17 bombings. GOI COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORT PICKS UP MOMENTUM ¶7. (C) The October 9 raid, if initial reports are verified, is the latest in a series of CT successes for the Indonesian government. These include: -- On October 2, terrorist Aris Makruf surrendered to authorities near his home in Temanggung, Central Java. -- During a fierce firefight on September 16-17, Police killed Noordin M. Top in Solo, Central Java. Three other terrorists were also killed: Hadi Susilo, alias Adib, Bagus Budi Pranoto, known as Urwah, and Ario Sudarso, also known as JAKARTA 00001713 002 OF 002 Aji. Police recovered almost 450 pounds of explosives and bomb-construction materials during the operation. -- On August 7-8, terrorist Ibrohim, a florist who helped smuggle bombs into the Ritz and Marriott died during a safe house raid in Temanggung, Central Java. Police carried out a simultaneous raid on a terror safe haven in Bekasi, Jakarta, at the same time. Two terrorists, Air Setyawan and Eko Joko Sarjono, died during that raid. OSIUS