BEJI, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian police stormed a house today where the regional militant leader suspected in last month's attacks on hotels in the capital was believed hiding out with several followers, witnesses and police said.
The raid broke a 16-hour siege of the house in central Java province that had officers trading automatic weapons fire with the militants. At least five loud explosions rocked the building since dawn.
Police spokesman Nanan Sukarna said officers believed alleged Malaysian militant leader Noordin Mohammad Top and two or three of his followers were inside, but could not immediately confirm their fate.
Minutes after the raid, witnesses said officers outside the house took off their helmets and were shaking hands with each other, suggesting all those inside had either been killed or captured. The firing ceased.
Noordin is suspected in last month's attacks on the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in the capital, Jakarta, which killed nine people and broke a four-year gap in terror strikes in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Killing or capturing him would be a major victory in Indonesia's fight against militants and could significantly weaken the chances of more attacks, given the key planning, financial and motivational role he is believed to have played in terror networks.
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