Patek relates to W. Nusa Tenggara boarding school

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 07/25/2011 6:52 PM


Umar Patek, a wanted terrorist suspect arrested in Pakistan, has been linked to the Umar Bin Khattab Islamic Boarding School in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, where a bomb exploded on July 11, an official said on Monday.

“[He has connections to acts of terrorism] including in Bima, [the Central Sulawesi towns of] Palu and Poso. He has also been associated with people arrested for illegal weapons possession. Umar Patek is clear relations with all of them,” National Anti-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Insp. Gen. (ret) Ansyaad Mbai said.

The police detained Umar Bin Khattab principal Abrori a few days after a bomb exploded in the school, killing a teacher. The police searched the school and found bomb materials along with weapons and VCDs on jihad.

Ansyaad said the police were still negotiating with the Pakistan authorities to bring Patek to Indonesia and try him here.

“We don’t know yet about the deportation process. There is still an ongoing government-to-government negotiation,” he said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

According to Ansyaad, Patek is the government’s most wanted terrorist suspect, as he is suspected of having played a role in the both the Bali Bombings I and II as well as the infamous Christmas Eve bombings.