Radical Indonesian cleric Bashir arrested on terror charges

MELBOURNE - Radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been arrested by Indonesian Police on the charges of terrorism.

The Kompas.com website said Bashir was arrested in Ciamis regency in West Java province this morning.

Bashir had been attending Koran recitals in West Java during for the past several days, The Daily Telegraph quoted the website, as saying.

Police spokesman Marwoto Soeto confirmed the arrest. “It’s linked with terrorism,” he said.

Bashir is best known as the co-founder and spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, the terrorist group responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Bashir, 72, spent several years in prison for his involvement with JI but was released in 2006. (ANI)