Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Aug 15: US President George W. Bush today applauded the capture of al-Qaeda kingpin Hambali, branding him "one of the world's most lethal terrorists". "In the last few days, we captured a major terrorist named Hambali," Bush said in a speech to US servicemen who served in the Iraq war.
"He's a known killer. 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. "He is no longer a problem to those of us who love freedom. 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," Bush said.
The White House earlier announced the capture of Hambali, whose real name is Riduan bin Isomuddin, somewhere in Asia. The Islamic scholar, a chief of the radical group Jemaah Islamiyah, is wanted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines in connection with a series of bomb attacks. Bureau Report