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Indonesian police: Terror network leader arrested

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesian police said Friday that one of a group of suspected terrorists seized in a raid is the head of Jemaah Islamiyah -- the al-Qaeda-linked terror network blamed for attacks including the deadly Bali bombings.

Known simply as Zarkasih, the alleged leader of the Southeast Asian terror groupwas apprehended at the same time as its confessed military leader, Abu Dujana, whose arrest was announced on Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Surya Dharma said .

Fifteen suspected terrorists have been taken into custody in recent days, police said.

Police believe their arrests will deal a major blow to the organization, which aims to establish pan-Southeast Asian Islamic state.

Jemaah Islamiyah is accused of carrying out the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings which killes 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

There has been intense speculation as to who has been leading JI since its former leaders were arrested in 2000 and 2003.

Authorities say Abu Dujana was instrumental in the planning and execution of a 2003 attack on Jakarta's Marriott bombing and the 2004 bombing of the city's Australian embassy.

The hotel bombing killed 12 people and 10 people died in the embassy attack.

Abu Dujana is also believed to have directed operations in Poso, on the island of Sulawesi, sending jihad fighters there to foment sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians.

Abu Dujana studied in Pakistan and fought in Afghanistan from 1988 to 1991. He is one of the few remaining mujahideen fighters in Jemaah Islamiyah and police say he has close personal ties with the al Qaeda.

He is also believed to have spent several years in training camps run by the group in the southern Philippines.

Dharma told CNN in March that Abu Dujana is "a very dangerous and clever man."

"He's an expert in weapon training, small arms, heavy weapons and artillery," Dharma said. "All actions, military actions by JI is controlled a hundred percent by Abu Dujana."

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