JAKARTA // A convicted Indonesian terrorist said suspected Bali bomber Umar Patek also prepared the explosives used in a string of attacks on Jakarta churches in 2000, a court heard yesterday.
Eddy Setiono, who is serving a life sentence for terror offences, told a Jakarta court that he drove a car to several churches on Christmas Eve 2000 while Mr Patek "set up" bombs - disguised as gifts - in the back seat.
The bombs were delivered to churches and clergymen killing 19 people and injuring scores more.
Speaking at Mr Patek's trial over the church attacks and the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people, Setiono said the pair wanted to avenge the deaths of Muslims in Ambon and Poso in eastern Indonesia.
Sectarian violence claimed the lives of more than 6,000 Christians and Muslims between 1999 and 2002 in the two towns.
"We did that because of Ambon. Our conscience had spoken to us," Setiono said.
"For the Christmas bombing, I drove the car to several churches in Jakarta ... while Umar Patek set up the bombs in the back seat."
Mr Patek, 45, went on trial in February on charges including murder, bomb-making and possession of illegal firearms for the church attacks and Bali nightclubs blasts, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.
Once the most-wanted terror suspect in Indonesia, who spent nearly a decade on the run, Mr Patek had a US$1 million (Dh3.67m) bounty placed on his head by the United States.
He was extradited to Indonesia after being arrested in January 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan the town where US commandos killed Osama bin Laden in May.
His trial is expected to last more than four months as prosecutors present evidence from 86 witnesses. Prosecutors say they will push for the death penalty.
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
