Noordin Mohammad Top

Noordin Mohammad Top
Noordin's FBI Photo
Born(1968-08-11)11 August 1968
Kluang, Johor, Malaysia
Died17 September 2009(2009-09-17) (aged 41)
Occupation(s)Financier, alleged trainer of the splinter group of Jemaah Islamiyah and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid
Criminal statusDeceased (2009)
SpouseMunfiatun
Criminal penaltyNone

Noordin Mohammad Top (11 August 1968 – 17 September 2009) was a Malaysian Muslim extremist. He was also referred to as Noordin, Din Moch Top, Muh Top, Top M or Mat Top. Until his death, he was Indonesia's most wanted Islamist militant.[1][2]

Born in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia, he is thought to have been a key bomb-maker and/or financier, for Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) along with Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), and to have left it, setting up the more violent splinter group Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad.[3] Noordin was reported by the FBI to be "an explosives expert", and "an officer, recruiter, bomb maker and trainer for the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group."[4]

Once in Indonesia, he married using the assumed name Abdurrachman Aufi. His wife, Munfiatun, was jailed in June 2005, for concealing information about his whereabouts.[5]

Noordin and Azahari Husin were thought to have masterminded various bombings across Indonesia, mostly in early 2000s.[6]

Noordin may also have assisted in the earlier Philippine consulate bombing in Jakarta, Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing, Christmas Eve 2000 Indonesia bombings and 2002 Bali bombings[7] Noordin (allegedly nicknamed Money man) was an indoctrinator specialising in recruiting militants as suicide bombers, and in collecting funds for militant activities.[8] Long after first being declared as wanted by Malaysian and Indonesian authorities, he was added to the FBI's third major wanted list in 2006. FBI Seeking Information - War on Terrorism list.[9] He was killed during a police raid (by Indonesia's anti-terrorist unit Densus 88) in Solo, Central Java, conducted on 17 September 2009.[10]

  1. ^ "Q+A: Noordin Mohammad Top and Islamic militancy in Indonesia". Reuters. 17 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Indonesian police say militant Noordin Top is dead", The Washington Post, 17 September 2009.
  3. ^ "The Australian". Theaustralian.news.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Fugitive linked to Jakarta blasts". BBC News. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  5. ^ BBC Profile: Noordin Mohamed Top, bbc.co.uk; accessed 23 August 2015.
  6. ^ "FACTBOX: Five facts about Islamic militant Noordin Top". Reuters. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Sydney Morning Herald". Smh.com.au. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  8. ^ Bali bombings: 'Demolition Man,' 'Moneyman' key suspects, Rediff India Abroad, 3 October 2005.
  9. ^ "Seeking Information Alert for Top". Fbi.gov. 4 April 1979. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  10. ^ Sukarsono, Achmad; Kate, Daniel Ten (17 September 2009). "Noordin, Southeast Asian Terrorist Leader, Is Dead". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 17 September 2009.