Indonesian police carry evidence from a suspected Islamic militant hideout on outskirts of Solo city in Central Java. Armed Indonesian police stormed an Islamic militant hideout linked to Southeast Asia's leading terrorism suspect early Thursday in a raid that left four people dead, officials said.  (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    JAKARTA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Senior Indonesian police officers all smiled Thursday afternoon when they confirmed the death of notorious terrorist gang leader Noordin M. Top in a raid in Solo in Central Java Wednesday night.

    Indonesian police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri repeated several times that the death of Noordin was the God's greatest gift to Indonesian people in the end of the holy Ramadan month.

Leading Islamic militant Noordin Mohammad Top is seen in a wanted poster  in Malang, East Java in this August 8, 2009 file photo. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "From the ante mortem and finger print, there were 14 similar points in right and left finger of the unidentified dead body. With such a result, it was scientifically and legally accountable that that is Noordin M. Top's body," Bambang told a press conference at the police headquarters.

    Police also found the bodies of Bagus Budi Pranoto alias Urwah, Hadi susilo and Ario Sudarso alias Aji in the house struck by the raid. Urwah and Aji were Noordin's accomplices who were experts in assembling bombs. Aji was the student of Azahari, the terrorist group's mentor who was killed in Malang East Java in 2005 in a police raid.

    Wife of Hadi Susilo alias Adib who rented house for Noordin M. Top was also shot and seriously wounded. She has been hospitalized in East Jakarta.

    According to Bambang, Top was found holding a M-16 rifle gun. Bambang did not say whether Top had attempted to commit suicide by detonating a bomb.

    Dr Azahari managed to detonate a bomb on him before the police ransacked the house in Malang.

    Bambang expected police to arrest more terrorist suspects namely Syaifuddin Zuhri and Mohammad Syarif, who are still at large.

Key terrorist leader Noordin M Top killed in raid: Indonesian police chief

     JAKARTA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Police chief General Bambang Danuri Hendarso said Thursday that the most wanted Islamic militant Noordin Mohammad Top was killed in a raid in Central Java.

    The police chief told reporters at the State Palace before reporting to President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono about the raid on a house believed as a hideout of terrorist suspects linked with the two suicide bombings in Jakarta on July 17. The house was located in Kampung Sari village of Solo regency in Central Java.  Full story