Indonesia Kills Two Islamic Militants; May Have Captured Noordin Muhammed Top - Video 8/8/09

Here is a video report on Indonesian Security Forces killing two Islamic militants thought to have been involved in previous terrorist attacks, and finding a cache of explosives ready to be used in fresh attacks.

They also may have captured or killed Noordin Muhammed Top, one of Jemaah Islamiyah's key leaders in a raid on a house in Central Java. He is thought to be the mastermind behind the bombing of two Jakarta Hotels in July. Police are not yet confirming the identity of those taken into custody after a long siege there:

Indonesian police killed two militants believed to be connected with a 2004 embassy bombing and found a cache of explosives in an early morning raid Saturday on a house on the outskirts of Jakarta, the national police chief said.

Police found about 100 kg (220 lbs) of explosives along with bomb-making materials and a truck, which they did not immediately open out of fear it might have been rigged to explode, Chief Bambang Hendarso said.

The dead militants are suspected of being linked to the attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in which 16 people were killed and more than 200 wounded, Hendarso said.

Meanwhile, an 18-hour standoff in Indonesia's Central Java region ended at a house in Temanggung, where three to four people were believed to be holed up, police said.

The standoff involved Indonesian anti-terrorism forces hunting Noordin Top, the main suspect in last month's Jakarta hotel bombings as well as a suspect in the embassy attack, police officials told CNN.

Spokesman Sulistyo Ishak could not confirm Indonesian media reports that Top may be inside.

The firefight began Friday afternoon. Witnesses told Indonesian television that they had been moved out of view of the house but could hear gunfire and explosions from that direction.

The security forces launched a raid on the house after two people believed to be nephews of its owner were arrested earlier in the day, according to Indonesia's official ANTARA News Agency.

A statement attributed to Top claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attacks last month targeting Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. The coordinated bombings killed seven people and the two suspected bombers and wounded more than 50. . . . . MORE