Islamic militants plan to kidnap businessmen, politicians in Indonesia

Islamic militants plan to kidnap businessmen and politicians in Indonesia, and to use the ransoms to finance their terrorist activities, the intelligence chief said Wednesday. Syamsir Siregar said the State Intelligence Agency learned of the plot after intercepting communications from a meeting held by terrorists, but he would not elaborate.

"They want to get money by kidnapping influential figures, and this could include businessmen and politicians," he told reporters. Islamic militants from the al-Qaida linked Jemaah Islamiyah regional network have launched five suicide bombings targeting Western interests since 2002, killing more than 240 people.

In the most recent attack three months ago, terrorists detonated backpack-borne explosives in crowded restaurants on the resort island of Bali. Authorities said the militants, who have been hit by scores of arrests in recent years, were running low on funds, reports the AP. I.L.

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