Police identify hotel suicide bombers after weekend raids

Agus Purwanto (center), the father of suspected terrorist Air Setyawan who was killed during an anti-terror search in Jati Asih, Bekasi, on Saturday, almost fell unconscious after visiting the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Sunday. He was at the police office seeking a confirmation of his son’s death. Antara/Prasetyo Utomo

After weeks of investigation, the National Police revealed Saturday the identity of two men who blew themselves up in attacks on two hotels in South Jakarta, killing seven other people, including six foreign nationals.

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the bomber of the JW Marriott Hotel was Dani Dwi Permana, a 18-year-old graduate of a private senior high school in Bogor, West Java.
“The perpetrator was recruited in Bogor,” he said.

The four-star general said the bomber of the Ritz-Carlton hotel was Nana Ikhwan Maulana, a 28-year-old former resident of Pandeglang, Banten.

Bambang said the police were able to confirm the identities of the suicide bombers on Aug. 3 after DNA tests were conducted on members of the bomber’s families.

He said the two suicide bombers were recruited by a man identified only as SJ, aka AT, who is still
at large.

“We are still hunting SJ. Hopefully, we can arrest him as soon as possible,” Bambang said.

He said Dani, Nana and SJ were all members of terrorist group led by Noordin M. Top, Indonesia’s most wanted terrorist.

Dani was a resident of the Telaga Kahuripan housing complex in Parung, West Java.

His father, Zulkifli Aroni, strongly condemned the terrorists who coerced his child into the suicide bombing, expressing doubt his son would join a terrorist group, let alone become a suicide bomber.

“I don’t believe Dani is the suicide bomber of the JW Marriott Hotel. The Detachment 88 [counterterrorism squad] came to me several days ago seeking information about Dani,” he said.

“They showed me photos of the dead bombers, but it didn’t look like Dani.”

Zulkifli, who is currently serving a sentence for robbery at the Paledang Bogor prison, said Dani was being used as a scapegoat.

He said he had not seen his son since March.

“Dani never complained to me about his problems. He visited me here to give me support and strength. He asked me to be patient and continue praying,” he said.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood head of the Telaga Kahuripan housing complex, Joko Sukarjo, said he was shocked by the police’s claim that Dani’s was one of the suicide bombers.

“Dani is a polite teen and got along well with all the neighbors here, we don’t believe that Dani was involved in the suicide bombing of the JW Marriott,” he said.

The police believe Dani rented room No. 1808 in the JW Marriott several days before detonating the bomb on July 17. The room was paid for by Amir Abdillah, who was arrested by Detachment 88 officers in Koja, North Jakarta.

The police have also arrested two men, Yayan and Hendra, who are believed to have been selected as the next suicide bombers for attacks on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s resident in Cikeas, Bogor.

“Amir is a driver who was recruited to bomb President Yudhoyono’s house in Cikeas,” Bambang said.
Yayan, Hendra and Amir are also believed to be members of the terrorist group led by Noordin.

Bambang said Noordin and other militants had been planning to bomb the home of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Police killed two suspected militants and seized bombs and a car rigged to carry them Saturday during a raid on a house on the outskirts of Jakarta, the police chief said. The house is just five kilometers from the president’s private residence.

He said the decision to attack Yudhoyono was made at an April 30 meeting led by Noordin in response to the government’s decision to execute the three convicted Bali bombers.