JI detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from Singapore detention centre
Posted: 27 February 2008 2045 hrs

SINGAPORE : A massive police operation is underway in Singapore after the leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network here, Mas Selamat Kastari, escaped from detention at 4.05pm on Wednesday.

A statement from the Home Affairs Ministry says Mas Selamat walks with a limp and is presently at large.

He is not known to be armed and is one of Singapore's most wanted men.

Extensive police resources have been deployed to track him down after he escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

Anyone with information about him can contact the police at 999.

Mas Selamat was arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006.

He was picked up then for using a fake identity card.

Based on investigations then, Indonesia's elite anti-terror police discovered he was the leader of the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah network, a terrorist organisation.

They then deported the man to Singapore in 2006.

The 45-year-old father of four was also said to be involved in JI's plans to mount attacks against foreign and local establishments here.

These included the US Embassy and American Club, the Defence Ministry headquarters at Bukit Gombak and the Education Ministry building at North Buona Vista Drive.

Mas Selamat fled Singapore in December 2001 following an Internal Security Department operation against the terrorist organisation.

The militant leader had been on the run after Singapore authorities discovered plans to crash seven truck filled with bombs at various locations around the island.

Investigations also revealed that he was the mastermind behind a plan to hijack an airplane and crash it into Changi airport.

When he was last arrested in Indonesia, officers found literature on bomb making on the man.

Mas Selamat's deportation to Singapore two years ago was seen as a significant development in the close network of cooperation amongst intelligence officers in the region to share information on terror suspects and to defeat the terror threat.

The islandwide manhunt has fanned out to areas in Beauty World in Upper Bukit Timah and Goldhill Avenue near Barker Road.

Officers are also knocking on homes asking residents if they have seen the escapee.

Police have also formed a formidable blockade around Malcolm Park, near the Singapore Chinese Girls' School. - CNA/ch

Woah! My Dad called hours ago and told us there were many policemen and army people at his place, immediately tuned in to CNA. This is getting to be really bad. And it's getting worse by the minute. I wonder how the JI leader (S'pore network) escaped Whitley Detention Centre especially when he's alleged to walk with a limp. It's been more than 7 hours already for God's sakes. For missing person cases, the chances of finding the said person diminishes as time wears on (think: indirect proportion). The main thing is, this is NO ordinary missing person case. We're talking about the alleged JI leader here, the very same person who's been planning to bomb several places in Singapore, and aims to crash into the Changi Airport. It doesn't help that this very same man we're talking about is a trained professional in bomb-making nor that he's handpicked by JI heads in Afghanistan (allegedly).

Honestly, if Mr JI were to sell me curry puffs on the street, I would never have recognised him. He's got a super common face lor. Guess the only significant characteristic is his limp, but who's to know if his "limp" is for real? Geez, conspiracy theories, this is really getting to me. Lol. Last I heard, school's out for Singapore Chinese Girls' School tomorrow. Is anybody cheering? Your guess is as good as mine. ;)

Sigh. Looks like our squeaky clean image's going up in smoke. With the recent successful bid for the very first Youth Olympics 2010 and the highly lucrative F1 bid, this devastating piece of news can NOT be more timely. Geez. Really hope he's nabbed soon. Well, for once, I am following the CNA live feed closely (I'm not that apathetic after all *phew*). I wonder why the Singapore Police Force isn't having any live media conference or release any statement to the public. o_o??

We're on Yahoo! and BBC now. We're under major international spotlight now, and all for the WRONG reasons. U_U"

Anyhow, be safe everyone!