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Tailor, milk-and-herbs seller thought to be behind attacks

JAKARTA — Ichwan Nurul Salam, one of the two Indonesian suicide bombers who killed three policemen at a Jakarta bus station on Wednesday night, was a quiet man who took a deep interest in religion two years ago, said a family member.

JAKARTA — Ichwan Nurul Salam, one of the two Indonesian suicide bombers who killed three policemen at a Jakarta bus station on Wednesday night, was a quiet man who took a deep interest in religion two years ago, said a family member.

“At that time, he often took part in Islamic studies and became more religious,” Tempo.com quoted his uncle Yuniar Hidayat as saying.

However, he does not know where the 32-year-old married father of two went for his religious studies.

Salam also kept his beliefs to himself, said Mr Hidayat.

“Maybe he was afraid that his views would trigger a debate among the family and that was why he kept his opinions to himself.”

The Indonesian authorities had identified Salam and tailor Ahmad Sukri as the bombers who unleashed their assault in twin blasts set five minutes apart in the Kampung Melayu area in Jakarta.

The bombing was the deadliest attack in Indonesia since January last year, when a suicide blast and gun assault claimed by the Islamic State in downtown Jakarta left four attackers and four civilians dead.

Salam, who made a living selling fresh milk and traditional herbs, did not mix with the residents in his neighbourhood of Batununggal in Bandung, West Java.

Neighbours said he lived in a rented house with his mother, wife and two children aged three and six. They have since been arrested by the police to help with the investigation.

“Salam was a good quiet man, there was nothing suspicious about him,” Batununggal association chairman Priatini, who like most Indonesians goes by one name, told Detik.com. “He never mixes around, at most, he will just smile if he sees anyone,” Tempo quoted him as saying.

Ahmad Sukri was born in West Bandung.

The 32-year-old, also a father of two, used to live with his mother but moved into a rented house in Garut, West Java, three months ago to be near his younger sibling, said West Jaya police commissioner Yusri Yunus. However, his family has not seen him since last month, he added.

Meanwhile, the authorities have identified the three dead policemen as Gilang Imam Adinata, Ridho Setiawan and Taufan. All three were buried yesterday.

Ms Dwi Mulyani, a close friend of Adinata’s family, said the policeman was an obedient son who was well-liked by everyone. His mother is still in shock over his death, she said.

“She last spoke to him at around 7pm and the next thing she knew, she received news that he was one of those killed by the blast,” suara.com quoted her as saying.

Setiawan’s father, Mr Gunawan, did not realise his son had been killed in the explosion until he was told by the authorities to go to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital to identify the body.

“I didn’t hear from my son last night so I thought he was asleep. Not long after I went to sleep, I was woken up at about 3am when they knocked on the door,” he quoted as saying by Detik.com. AGENCIES

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