Bali suspect arrested in Pakistan

Umar Patek, a deputy commander of al-Qaeda's Southeast Asian affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah, was arrested in Pakistan on January 25 after a tip from the CIA, Pakistani and Indonesian security officials have said.

In this undated poster released by Philippine National Police and the U.S. Rewards For Justice Program, shows Umar Patek. Intelligence sources say top Indonesian terror suspect Umar Patek has been arrested in Pakistan. Photo: AP.

Umer Patek, one of Indonesia's “most wanted'' men for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, is said to have been arrested in Pakistan.

Officially, Pakistan is yet to confirm his identity but Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua on Thursday said: “I can confirm the arrest of an individual who could be the Bali bombing suspect. It is now up to the Indonesian Embassy to determine exactly who the person is.''

Pressed for more details, she said: “We understand that it [the arrested person] could be Umer Patek''.

Jemmah Islamiyah

A Javanese Arabic, Patek is a member of the Jemmah Islamiyah and is said to have played a key role in the Bali bombings which left over 200 dead.

The arrest was apparently made some days ago by the ISI.

He is still in ISI custody and being put through detailed interrogation. According to the Foreign Office, consular access would be provided to him as is normal practice and only then can his bona fides be established.