The hunt for '901 bombers'

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have made a desperate plea to the public — with a reward — to help them put a face to the mysterious 901 bombers whom investigators have described as knowledgeable about explosives.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has offered RM10,000 to anyone who reveals the identities of the bombers.

While a witness would be of great help, police said the public should refrain from speculating about the identities of those involved or the motive behind the incident as it would cause uneasiness.

Police want to solve the case quickly as it is a first for them and poses an unhealthy trend in the country.

KL police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said initial forensic tests on the remnants of the three explosives found at the scene revealed the devices were planted to create chaos and panic at the Free Anwar rally and not to kill.

Police disclosed the powder used to make the bombs was similar to the one used in making firecrackers, lending credence to the theory it was not meant to cause death and untold damage.

Asked if the culprits were experts in making bombs,

City CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said: "I would not say they are experts in making this, but they must have had some knowledge as an amateur that probably would not have been so successful on executing this."

Police, however, acknowledged whoever planted the three explosives would be someone with knowledge of the area.

The explosives went off at the Jalan Duta court complex shortly after Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of sodomy on Monday.

The first blast occurred on Jalan Khidmat Usaha, 300 metres from Gate A of the court at 10.20am; followed by a second in Jalan Dutamas, 100 metres away, at 10.45am; and the third, 150 metres from Gate B of the court, at 10.55am.

Mohmad said police were seeking information from those who sold items used to make the devices and from the public as they had no clear leads into the incidents.

He released pictures of the components used in making the bomb with the intention of jogging the memory of those who might have sold or seen them.

The photographs included an actual police traffic cone with shattered pieces of the fake ones under which the explosives were planted.

Mohmad said the cones used by the bombers were bigger than the police issue and could have been stolen from a construction site.

Ku, who held a briefing for the media, explained the components — alarm clocks, nine-volt batteries, PVC pipe and ball bearings — were used to make the bomb.

First, he said, it was not a bomb but what police termed as an "IED" (improvised electrical device).

"They used a nine-volt battery in each of the devices. Three different brands of batteries were used namely G&P, Long King and Eveready."

Ku said Long King was a cheap brand, usually sold in flea markets.

Contrary to initial thought that a digital timer was used, he said a normal alarm clock was placed in each of the device.

The clocks were all red in colour and of the same brand. They cost RM10 each and were most likely bought at a pasar malam.

Meanwhile, the last of the five people injured in the blasts have been released from Hospital Kuala Lumpur yesterday.