Indonesian media on Monday said that investigators have identified one of the Jakarta hotel suicide bombers and were taking DNA samples from his family, in reports that the police refused to confirm.
Local media said the man was a former student at an Islamic boarding school linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, which is being blamed for the twin blasts at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels on Friday.
Websites and newspapers identified the bomber seen in grainy security camera footage at the Marriott as Nur Hasbi, alias Nurdin Aziz or Nur Sahid, a follower of Malaysian-born JI faction leader Noordin Mohammad Top.
State news agency Antara said investigators had gone to Hasbi's family home to collect DNA samples, but police would not confirm the report.
"About the news being circulated about the initial 'N' being shown on TV and commentaries, the police have not said that 'N' is the perpetrator. We are still investigating," deputy police spokesman Sulistyo Ishak told reporters.
Senior anti-terrorist officials have said the attacks look like the work of Noordin, who leads a violent splinter faction of JI that advocates the mass killing of Westerners as a legitimate means of "holy war".
{{/usCountry}}Senior anti-terrorist officials have said the attacks look like the work of Noordin, who leads a violent splinter faction of JI that advocates the mass killing of Westerners as a legitimate means of "holy war".
{{/usCountry}}Two bombers killed seven people including three Australians and a New Zealander in almost simultaneous blasts at the luxury hotels. More than 50 people were injured.
Police said they were trying to rebuild the face on a severed head believed to belong to one of the bombers.