Indonesia, August 08: Indonesian police stormed a house on Saturday 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 have rocked the building since dawn.
Police spokesperson 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.
A police officer at the scene said a body was found in the bathroom of the house.
—Agencies