'Al-Qaeda' blog claims bombing as Indonesia hotels re-open

[Coventina]

Source: AFP

JAKARTA — Two luxury hotels struck by suicide bombers less than two weeks ago re-opened Wednesday in Jakarta, as an Internet blog from "Al-Qaeda Organisation Indonesia" claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Police said they could not tell if the claim was authentic but it was being investigated as part of the massive probe into the July 17 twin suicide blasts, which killed seven people including six foreigners.

The message in Indonesian and Arabic is signed by "Abu Muawwidz Nur Din bin Muhammad Top" and praises two "holy warrior brothers" who blew themselves up at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in central Jakarta.

The statement said the attacks were a "martyrdom operation for jihad" intended as "retribution for the deeds of America and its agents against our Muslim brothers and holy warriors in all corners of the world".

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