Indonesian terrorists running short of money

Islamic militants behind a string of deadly attacks in Indonesia are running short of money, the national police chief said, claiming they were selling prepaid phone cards to finance their activities. Police have said that in the past the regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah received some of its funds from al-Qaida, as well as from criminal activity within Indonesia, including armed robberies.

Gen. Sutanto said the militants were "now having funding problems" and "one of their solutions is to sell prepaid cell phone vouchers." One street-side stall could net US$500 (Ђ424) a day, he said, without elaborating.

Jemaah Islamiyah militants have been tied to four attacks on Western targets in Indonesia since 2002, including two strikes on the resort island of Bali. More than 250 people have been killed.

Analysts have speculated the group was short of money based on the fact that its most recent attack, the Oct. 1 triple suicide bombings on Bali, used small bombs carried in backpacks, unlike earlier strikes that used larger and more expensive car bombs, reports the AP. I.L.

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