JAKARTA - SOUTH-EAST ASIA'S most-wanted terror suspect, Noordin Top, may have evaded a massive manhunt and fled Indonesia.
A senior member of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist network who was arrested and extradited to Indonesia told police that an Algerian who helped him escape from the country said Noordin had managed to flee.
A senior anti-terrorism officer said yesterday that police were still 'cross-checking' the information with other sources to verify the claim.
Noordin, a Malaysian national, is accused of directing the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings and three other attacks on Western targets in Indonesia that have together killed some 240 people.
If confirmed, the escape would raise worrying questions about the future plans of Noordin, who has been on the run since 2002.
Police have often claimed to be close to catching him, but over the past 18 months, the trail has apparently gone cold.
The claim that he has fled is contained in police investigation reports into two senior Indonesian members of the JI network - Abu Husna and Agus Purwantoro - who fled the country on a mission to link up with terrorist groups in the Middle East. They were arrested en route in Malaysia and extradited to Indonesia in late March.
While discussing Abu Husna's planned journey, an Algerian contact who was helping to plan the escape was quoted as saying: 'Do you know that Noordin Top has escaped?'
Ms Sidney Jones, a researcher at the International Crisis Group, said: 'If it is true, it is a mixed blessing for Indonesia.
'It would mean he was no longer around to recruit young Indonesians for possible attacks, but it would also mean someone with intimate knowledge of South-east Asia was plugged back into the international jihadi network that could bring fresh attention to the region.'
