Indonesian police say villager killed in gunbattle with militants during raid in Aceh

Indonesian police say villager shot in Aceh raid

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — A villager was killed in crossfire and three suspected militants were arrested when police raided a possible paramilitary training ground for the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia’s restive Aceh province, police said Tuesday.

Jemaah Islamiyah is suspected of being behind several terrorist bombings in Indonesia but a terrorist training facility has never been found in the vast archipelago.

Police made the arrests after an hour-long gunbattle late Monday in the Jalin mountains region, provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Aditya Warman said.

“There are indications that they are members of Jemaah Islamiyah,” Warman told reporters in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital.

He said a Jemaah Islamiyah affiliation could not be confirmed until after a police investigation is completed.

Police surprised more than 50 militants in what appeared to be a training hide-out, Warman said.

All but the three suspects escaped, armed with assault rifles. The only known casualty was the local man who died in the crossfire while fishing, Warman said.

Police confiscated documents, bayonets, money and several sets of uniforms which are similar to Malaysian military issue, he said.

The three suspects are being questioned by police to determine if they are members of Jemaah Islamiyah, Warman said. No charges have been issued.