Indonesia says it has DNA samples of key terror suspects' relatives

Jakarta: Indonesia has DNA samples from relatives of major terrorism suspects to use in investigation and identification efforts, police officials said yesterday 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 (Dh5.8 million) 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 considered a mastermind of bombing attacks in Indonesia.

Most wanted

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.

Yesterday police arrested a 25-year-old suspected militant at a house in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province and Indonesia's second largest city, said Adiwinoto.

Police seized 12.5 kg of TNT, more than 14 kg of other chemicals, 20 detonators as well as dozens of books espousing militancy from the house, he said.

Raids on several hideouts of suspected militants in Central Java and Yogyakarta last week prevented 20 attacks, police have said.