Asia’s Most Wanted Terror Suspect ‘Noordin Top’ May Have Fled Indonesia
May 19, 2008 by national
Filed under World Report
Southeast Asia’s most wanted terror suspect, Noordin Top, may have evaded a massive manhunt and fled Indonesia, according to police documents.
A militant who was arrested and extradited to Indonesia told police that an Algerian who helped him escape from the country also said that Top had managed to flee, according to the police interrogation documents.
A senior anti-terror officer said Monday that police were still “crosschecking” the information with other sources. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of his job.
Top is accused of directing the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings and three other attacks on Western targets in Indonesia that have together killed more than 240 people, most of them foreign tourists.
If confirmed, Top’s escape would be a blow to Indonesia, which has been praised for its successes in the fight against terrorism. It would also raise worrying questions about Top’s current location and future plans.
