Number One Fugitive in Indonesia, Noordin M. Top, reported dead after overnight raid

This morning Jakarta time, Noordin M. Top, number one fugitive in Indonesia is reported dead following an overnight raid at a rented house in a village in Temanggung, Central Java. Noordin M. Top is a Malaysian who has resided in Indonesia for over a decade. Top has been tightly linked with terrorist group responsible for high-profile bombings in Indonesia, arguably including the last twin bombs detonated in luxury hotels Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott last month. He is wanted in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

Yesterday afternoon, special division anti-terror police started raiding another house nearby, from which 5 alleged terrorists were captured. The raid continued at the house where Top was killed from 3PM local time.

Prior to the Central Java raid, police has also ransacked a house in Bekasi, suburban Jakarta. The house is said to have been the safe house for terrorists. It's also where last month's bombs were constructed. Upon the attack, in which 2 terrorists were killed in an escape attempt, police reported discovery of a large amount of explosives and bomb-making materials. Exact amount hasn't been confirmed but it was reported on the range of 100-500 kilograms. Bodies of the two terrorists killed in Bekasi are sent to Police Hospital in Jakarta, where police continues to keep security tight.

Prior to the raid in Temanggung, Top has narrowly escaped police chases a few times. In his hiding, he has been married a few time while taking shelters in places like Riau and Cilacap. Reportedly, he also has children from wives he left in different hiding places. A master of disguise, Top is also known as the master bombmaker in the terrorist cell responsible for Indonesian bombings, the most high-profiles have been the two JW Marriott bombings, Australian Embassy in 2004 and the two Bali blasts.

Post-mortems are still being done to confirm the dead bodies' identities.