Police arrest Indonesian Islamic boarding school prinicipal after bomb blast

2011-07-16 06:29:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

SUMBAWA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesian police on Friday arrested the principal of the Islamic boarding school where a bomb explosion killed one person last Monday, officials said.

National Police deputy spokesman Brigadier General Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said Abrory M. Ali, principal of the Umar bin Khatab Islamic boarding school, was arrested on Friday at around noon local time, the Jakarta Globe reported.

The arrest was made after Wednesday's search of the boarding school, which is located in Sanolo, Bolo, Bima, in the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, revealed the existence of homemade bombs and different weapons at the school. In addition, police said jihad documents were also found.

Abrory was arrested at his parents house in Khananga village, Bolo subdistrict, Untung said, adding that his detainment was ordered for allegedly being involved in the explosion and for stabbing a Bolo Police officer.

On Wednesday, the school grounds were searched when police were finally able to enter after struggling with armed students. As a result, four wired bombs constructed from empty bottles and four unwired bottle bombs were found around the school compound. In addition, 25 arrows, samurai swords, and dozens of jihadi materials were seized.

Previously, a fire broke out at Abrory's residence on Thursday, possibly burning important evidence before police were able to search the area. Police are now considering charges of arson to tamper with evidence. He has been transported from Bima to the Mataram Police precinct for further questioning.

The blast occurred on Monday at around 3:30 p.m. local time in the boarding school, and police arrested 11 people possibly linked to the explosion in which school treasurer Firdaus was killed. Despite police officers unable to enter the school grounds, they remained on guard around the area, as they continue investigating the relationship between Firdaus and the bomb.

At that time, Anton said police had been unable to enter the school grounds, as students surrounded the school and were armed with sharp weapons such as machetes and arrows. Other security personnel said they were possibly carrying firearms.

On June 30, 16-year-old student Sa'ban Umar Abdurahman, also from the Umar bin Khatab Islamic Boarding School, stabbed a local police officer to death. He claimed to be a member of extremist group Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), which was founded by convicted cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and claims to be trying to implement Shariah law in Indonesia.

JAT spokesman Son Hadi, meanwhile, acknowledged that the Islamic boarding school had links with the organization. Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali also admitted that since 2004, when the boarding school was founded, the institution had been problematic. Furthermore, he noted that if staff or students of the school were found to have links to any radical group, the school should be shut down, as students would need renewed guidance.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-16

Interesting school curriculum they must have, probably not too far different from that offered in sundry Islamic schools throughout the UK, with the possible exception that chemistry lessons are more theoreticsl than practical.

The religion of peace strikes again.