Jakarta: DNA tests have confirmed it was terrorist leader Noordin Top who was killed days ago in a shootout with police, Indonesian police said on Saturday.
Police used fingerprints to identify Noordin`s body after a gun battle at a safe house in central Java on Thursday. DNA tests have confirmed those findings, National Police spokesman Nanan Sukarna said.
"There`s no longer any doubt," Sukarna said.
Last month, authorities initially believed a terror suspect killed by police was Noordin, but DNA tests proved otherwise.
Police say Noordin, a Malaysian national, planned the 2002 and 2005 suicide bombings on the resort island of Bali and the July 17 attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta. In all, he is thought to be responsible for the deaths of 222 people, mostly foreigners.
Sukarna said Indonesian officials were coordinating with Noordin`s family in Malaysia to send his body back there "as soon as possible," but he did not specify a date.
Bureau Report
