Thaindian News

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) — Seven Indonesians linked with the Aceh terror group have been sentenced for targeting foreigners and government leaders, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

According to investigations, the individuals were planning to conduct Mumbai-style suicide attacks on hotels hosting foreigners, embassies, and Indonesian political leaders.

Three different cases were held for the seven individuals, who were sentenced to between five and eight years in prison. They were facing several charges, including clandestine paramilitary training in Jalin Jantho, Aceh Besar - which is located on the northern tip of Sumatra island - and public acts of terrorism.

Two were sentenced to five years in prison, four more to seven years, and the last two were handed an eight-year prison term. Their involvement in terror attacks include the October 2002 Bali bombings which killed at least 202 people, a grenade attack against the UNICEF office in Banda Aceh, and last year’s shooting of German Red Cross chief Erhard Bauer.

In February, authorities discovered the terrorist training camp and the group later became known as “al-Qaeda in Aceh.” As of Tuesday, over 100 people have been detained and 51 members of the armed group have been charged. Those charged are currently facing trial or serving prison time.

Indonesian Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, 72, the suspected leader of the terrorist paramilitary training facility, has been charged with at least five articles within Indonesia’s anti-terrorism laws. The most serious of those charges is mobilizing people for acts of terrorism, which carries the death sentence.