Bali Bombing, Chronology and Investigation of the biggest terror in Indonesia. Part 2

Summary

The Bali Bombing of October 12, 2002, was a devastating terrorist attack planned and executed by the Indonesian terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah. The bombing targeted two popular nightclubs, killing 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The plot was meticulously organized over months, involving surveillance, bomb-making, and a division of roles among key operatives. The attackers used a combination of bombs, including a car bomb, timed to maximize casualties. The investigation faced significant obstacles, including a lack of initial clues and a rushed, pressured timeline. It took international collaboration and innovative forensic techniques to ultimately uncover the perpetrators.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2002 Bali bombing investigation faced significant challenges and confusion, with the police unable to make significant progress for almost 10 days.
• 😀 Speculation and conspiracy theories emerged, with some suggesting foreign involvement, including Israel or the US, due to the scale and complexity of the attack.
• 😀 Indonesian politician Amien Rais publicly doubted that a local group could have orchestrated such a large-scale bombing, hinting at international involvement.
• 😀 Ali Imron, the Bali Bombing Field Coordinator, insisted that the bombing was solely carried out by their group, with no external support or involvement.
• 😀 The investigation team made a breakthrough on October 23, 2002, when they found a damaged piece of car frame, possibly from the bomb carrier vehicle.
• 😀 The serial number on the damaged car frame was initially unreadable, but a special method of 're-etching' was used to restore the number.
• 😀 The restored car frame number led the investigators to a vehicle in Kudus, Central Java, but this was later confirmed to be unrelated to the bombing vehicle.
• 😀 The 're-etching' method used by the Indonesian police in 2002 was an innovation and had not yet been adopted internationally for restoring vehicle identification numbers.
• 😀 Gories Mere, a legendary figure in Indonesian police known for his past achievements, was appointed as the lead investigator of the Bali bombing case on October 24, 2002.
• 😀 Despite the challenges and conspiracy theories, the investigation continued, with key efforts focusing on tracing and identifying the vehicle involved in the bombing.

Q & A

What were the initial difficulties faced by the Indonesian police in investigating the Bali bombing?

The Indonesian police faced significant challenges in investigating the Bali bombing due to the complexity of the case, the lack of clear leads, and the failure to make immediate arrests. This led to widespread confusion and difficulty in finding a resolution, compounded by conspiracy theories circulating in the media.

Why did some journalists suspect Laskar Jundullah Makassar in the Bali bombing?

Some journalists suspected Laskar Jundullah Makassar as a potential suspect in the Bali bombing due to their known militant activities in Indonesia, and because they were perceived as a likely group involved in such an attack.

What was the conspiracy theory involving Israel and the Bali bombing?

A conspiracy theory that circulated was that Israel had launched a micro-nuclear cruise missile controlled via satellite, which was suggested as the cause of the bombing. This theory was widely discussed despite a lack of evidence to support it.

What role did Amien Rais play in the conspiracy theories surrounding the Bali bombing?

Amien Rais, a prominent Indonesian figure, publicly voiced his disbelief that an Indonesian could have the capability to make a bomb of such magnitude. He even speculated that the bombing could have been orchestrated by the United States to create chaos in Indonesia.

What significant evidence did the police find two days before the deadline set by the Balinese Customary Council?

Two days before the deadline, the police found a piece of a car frame that contained a serial number. This frame piece was suspected to be part of the vehicle used to carry the bomb to the Sari Club. The police struggled to read the serial number due to intentional damage.

How did the police manage to recover the erased serial number from the car frame?

The police used a special technique involving a liquid concoction developed by the National Police, which allowed them to recover the erased serial number from the damaged car frame. This method, which was not available internationally at the time, helped identify the vehicle's origin.

What did the police discover after recovering the serial number from the car frame?

After recovering the serial number, the police found that the vehicle, an L300, was registered in Kudus, Central Java. This discovery ruled out the possibility that this particular frame was from the car used in the bombing.

Who was Gories Mere, and what role did he play in the investigation?

Gories Mere was a legendary figure in the Indonesian police, known for his success in solving high-profile cases, such as the capture of the fugitive Zarima. He was appointed as the field leader of the Bali Bombing investigation team, bringing expertise and leadership to the effort.

What method did the Indonesian police use to identify stolen vehicles in 2002?

In 2002, the Indonesian police used a special re-etching method, where a liquid solution was applied to reveal erased serial numbers on vehicles. This technique was primarily used for identifying stolen vehicles and was a key tool in the Bali bombing investigation.

How did Ali Imron describe his group's involvement in the Bali bombing?

Ali Imron, one of the key figures involved in the Bali bombing, testified that the bombing was purely the work of his group, with no external support or conspiracy. He emphasized that their group's capability was a source of pride, though he admitted responsibility for the attack.