In a Terrorist’s Mind

Frightening as every aspect of terrorism is, it has become a part of our daily lives and whenever we travel, it is not far from our thoughts. The Indonesian police recently released details of Azahari's documents where he recorded detailed plans of his attacks.

Dr. Azahari bin Husin the mastermind behind the Bali bombings was killed in an anti-terrorism raid last November. He resembled an academic with the stereotypical spectacles and groomed moustache, it is because he was one.

He was a lecturer at the Malaysian Institute of Technology in Johor, Malaysia and he was clearly talented in his field as he studied to become a mechanical engineer at the University of Adelaide and subsequently received his PhD from the University of Reading in England.

But academia took a back seat when Azahari ventured to Afghanistan in 2000 where he learnt bomb making techniques. His death during an anti-terrorism raid in East Java last year revealed a 34 page document on the second Bali bombing.

Dr. Rohan Gunaratna from the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore had examined the documents and expressed his thoughts to Tempo magazine.

"Azahari had detailed the steps which would have to be taken before, during and after the operation. He has outdone Abu Khabab al-Masri, his bomb making instructor in Afghanistan. He had perfected the art of the bomb attack from his teacher."

The report was divided into five chapters beginning with the reason for choosing Bali as the target.

As many had expected Bali was chosen for its large presence of foreign nationals and more importantly the international coverage Azahari and his accomplices would have achieved should the bombing take place there.

So how did Azahari plan his attack?

His followers surveyed between up to 20 night clubs in the Kuta Square, Jimbaran and Ubud areas. The targets were selected because they were frequented by European guests. Even the types and brands of clothing, shoes and bags used by the guests were noted. The suicide bombers planned to wear similar clothing. This is how they would be able to move through the crowd without arousing suspicion. The suicide bombers themselves were sent to make the survey so that they could become more familiar with the targets.

When the plans were finalized the bombs were prepared and a boarding room was reserved. The suicide bombers soon returned to Bali. The next few steps of the plan revealed how meticulous Azarhari was in strategizing the attack.

Agung Rulianto from Tempo magazine explains.

"The bombs would be detonated during the busiest hour at the targeted nightclubs. Azarhari had determined the timetable down to the minute starting from the time they left the boarding room until the time the time of detonation. The route to be taken by the bombers considered the position of the chairs and tables in order to obtain the maximum effect."

The plan went according to schedule and on Sunday 2nd October 2005 the explosions went off in Menega Restaurant and Nyoman Café, both in Jimbaran beach, at 7.40pm Western Indonesian Time. The explosion at R.Aja's Restaurant at Kuta Square took place three minutes later.

Agung Rulianto from Tempo magazine explains:

"According to a Tempo magazine source in the police department a black wallet belonging to the perpetrator in R.Aja's in Kuta Square was found. Inside it was a note written in Indonesian on a scrap of paper, reading 'Date with Ratna at 17:32.' The police interpreted that Ratna is a heavenly bride. That means they were ready to carry out suicide bombings. This time was not much different than that found written in Azarhari's document. There is a note on page 27 that stated that at 17:25 Western Indonesian Time the perpetrator must pack and arrange to check out of the boarding room. At 17:30 they were to take a motorcycle taxi to Legian beach. According to the plan the bombs were to be detonated simultaneously at 19:34 that evening."

The revelations of Azarhari's documents on the Bali bombings may send a chill down many spines. But such information has proved vital to police fighting terrorism, especially in capturing individuals with bomb-making techniques.

It can be seen from these documents that the attacks were calculated and planned down to the smallest details. If more terrorists are to be captured then these documents might prove invaluable to future investigations.