Extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah planned to bomb Bali memorial service
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-25 12:32

Southeast Asian extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah planned to bomb a memorial service in Indonesia for those killed in the 2002 Bali attacks but was deterred by high security, a report said.

The Islamic militants instead chose to attack tourists spots on the Indonesian resort island two weeks ahead of the anniversary, carrying out three suicide bombings on restaurants popular with westerners on October 1 and killing 23 people, the Australian newspaper said.

Citing intelligence sources in Indonesia, the paper said that master bomb-maker Azahari Husin had planned on placing a suicide bomber at the October 11 Bali memorial in Kuta.

But the attack was cancelled because of the high level of security at the event attended by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Justice Minister Chris Ellison, Bali police chief Chief I Made Mangku Pastika and relatives and friends of those killed in the blasts.

Indonesian police have worked closely with their Australian counterparts since the 2003 bombings of a Bali nightclub strip in which 202 people were killed, including 88 Australians.

Azahari, who was killed in a shoot-out with Indonesian police earlier this month, was also considering attacking other places frequented by tourists including Bali's airport, an art market in Ubud, temples, restaurants and the zoo, according to a document obtained by Indonesian police.

The document, entitled 'The Bali Project', was written by Azahari after the October 1 attacks and listed the names, ages and nationalities of the victims and a "debriefing" about the attack, the paper said.

It was contained on a computer disc being carried by a courier, Kholil, who was meant to deliver it to fugitive Jemaah Islamiyah strategist Noordin Top but was captured the day before Azahari was killed.

Earlier this week Australian police chief Mick Keelty said that authorities now had the most detailed understanding of Jemaah Islamiyah operations.

His Indonesian counterpart, General Sutanto, has also revealed that Azahari had 30 bombs ready to be used in a new wave of attacks.