SAN DIEGO — President Bush yesterday said the United States has captured “one of the world’s most lethal terrorists,” an al Qaeda leader who is the prime suspect in last year’s Bali bombing.
Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, is believed to be al Qaeda’s top representative in Southeast Asia. He headed a group known as Jemaah Islamiyah, which is suspected in the Bali bombing and a series of terrorist attacks on churches in the Philippines and Indonesia.
People were interested in these podcasts
“Hambali was one of the world’s most lethal terrorists, who is suspected of planning major terrorist operations, including that which occurred in Bali, Indonesia and other recent attacks,” Mr. Bush told thousands of Marines at the Miramar base here.
“He’s a known killer who was a close associate of September the 11th mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,” he said.
The president said the capture took place “in the last few days,” but did not reveal details of the operation. A senior administration official said Hambali was captured in Indonesia by U.S. forces and other parties in a joint operation.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan called Hambali’s capture “a significant blow to the enemy.”
“Hambali was al Qaeda’s chief representative and senior planner in Southeast Asia,” Mr. McClellan told reporters aboard Air Force One. “He was operational chief of Jemaah Islamiyah, the violent Islamic extremist group based in Indonesia.”
The catch was so significant that it was announced by the White House instead of the Pentagon. Shortly after Mr. McClellan broke the news to reporters on Air Force One, the plane landed and Mr. Bush publicly announced the capture.
“He is no longer a problem to those of us who love freedom,” said the president, surrounded by cheering Marines and gleaming aircraft on this sprawling military base.
“And neither are nearly two-thirds of known senior Al Qaeda leaders, operational managers and key facilitators, who have been captured or have been killed,” he said.
The senior administration official emphasized “what an evil person” Hambali is.
“His lengthy terrorist credentials include the Bali nightclub bombings in October 2002 that killed nearly 200 people,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He’s a leading suspect in the bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta earlier this month.”
The White House accused Hambali of facilitating a January 2000 meeting in Malaysia that included two of the September 11 hijackers.
“Information obtained from a senior al Qaeda detainee and corroborated by other sources indicates al Qaeda tasked Hambali shortly after September 11th with recruiting pilots to participate in additional hijackings inside the United States,” the administration source said.
Intelligence sources also indicate that an al Qaeda leader in Pakistan gave Hambali a large sum of cash earlier this year “for a major attack.”
U.S. authorities are interrogating Hamabli and are confident he will provide information that will help foil this and other planned attacks.
“He was one of the few remaining senior planners of al Qaeda and their most important link to terrorist groups in Southeast Asia,” the administration source said. “His detention effectively diminishes the group’s lethal capabilities and global reach.”
Mr. Bush first learned of the arrest during his national-security briefing Wednesday morning. The president was given the news by an adviser who was participating via teleconferencing equipment.
It was not clear why the White House waited until yesterday to disclose the capture, although one official cited national-security concerns.
Mr. Bush, who has been roundly criticized by Democrats in recent weeks for problems in postwar Iraq, sought to portray the capture of Hambali as a bright spot in the war against terror. But he made clear the struggle is far from over.
“Al Qaeda’s still active, and they’re still recruiting, and they’re still a threat because we won’t cower,” he said. “Its leaders and foot soldiers continue to plot against the American people.
“But every terrorist can be certain of this: Wherever they are, we will hunt them down, one by one, until they are no longer a threat to the people who live in the United States of America,” he said.
It was the president’s first visit to California since Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger electrified the political world by jumping into the gubernatorial race. During his speech to the Marines, Mr. Bush said he was honored by the presence of Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican who initiated the campaign to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.
But Mr. Bush steered clear of commenting on the recall, not wishing to become entangled in California’s contentious politics. So he stuck to thanking the troops, many of whom recently returned from duty in Iraq.
“Thanks to our military, Saddam Hussein will never threaten anybody with a weapon of mass destruction,” Mr. Bush said.
He also alluded to the scores of GIs who have been killed in combat since he declared an end to major hostilities on May 1.
“Each of you recalls especially the ones who gave their lives for freedom of others, and the United States will always honor their memory,” he said.
“And today we asked the Almighty’s blessings on those who grieve here on earth for their loved ones,” he said. “I know you’re proud to wear the same uniform they wore.”
After the speech, Mr. Bush ate lunch with the troops and headed to a San Diego hotel to raise funds for his re-election campaign.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.