The Bali bombing plot

At a secret meeting of operatives from South East Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiah, a man known as Hambali is believed to have ordered a new strategy of hitting soft targets like nightclubs and bars rather than high-profile sites like foreign embassies.

But it was not until August 2002 that Bali was chosen as the place to strike.

According to Ali Imron, who was jailed for life for his part in the attacks, it was at a meeting in a house in Solo, central Java, that "field commander" Imam Samudra announced the plan to bomb Bali, and the main agents in the plot first came together.

"Their duty was to explode the bombs, they were ready to die"
Ali Imron

Bali was chosen "because it was frequented by Americans and their associates", Ali Imron has said. He quoted Imam Samudra as saying it was part of a jihad to "defend the people of Afghanistan from America".

In fact, more Australians and Indonesians would die than Americans, prompting speculation that the plotters were poorly informed, or orchestrated by other people still at large.

Hambali, who is now in US custody, is believed to have been the South East Asian contact for Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

But he is not thought to have played an active part in the Bali plotting.

Instead, a 43-year-old Islamic teacher known as Mukhlas was convicted for the overall co-ordination of the attacks.

Prosecutors said he approved the targets and channelled the funds to finance the bombings, even though Mukhlas himself claimed he just gave the bombers religious guidance.

He also recruited two of his younger brothers, Amrozi and Ali Imron, to carry out key roles in the attack.

Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are said to have chaired preparatory meetings in western Java during August and September.

Ali Imron said that the Bali attacks were originally planned for 11 September, to mark the first anniversary of the terror attacks on the US.

But the bombs were apparently not ready in time, and the plans had to be postponed.

Final planning

The details of the attack were finalised in Bali between 6 and 10 October.

The bombers apparently all had separate roles.

A man called Idris, who was later jailed for another bomb attack, was accused of gathering funds and arranging transport and accommodation for the bombers in the days leading up to the attack.

Amrozi admitted to buying the chemicals and the minivan used in the Sari club blast.

Ali Imron said a man called Dulmatin, who is now believed to be in hiding in the southern Philippines, helped assemble the bombs, and a man called Abdul Ghoni mixed the explosives. Ali Imron said he helped make the main bomb, which was used to bomb the Sari club.

He said a van loaded with explosives was driven to Sari by a man called Jimi, who died in the blast. A man called Iqbal wore a vest with a bomb in it, which he detonated in Paddy's Bar.

"Their duty was to explode the bombs," Ali Imron had said. "They were ready to die."

Iqbal is known to have died in Paddy's Bar. But Ali Imron has also told police that the two bombs exploded prematurely, which could have caught Iqbal out, so it is unclear if he was on a suicide mission.

All the individuals detained for playing a major role in the attacks have now been sentenced.

But key suspects were never caught.

These include two Malaysians, Dr Azahari Husin, who was alleged to be JI's top bomb-making expert and the man who helped assemble the Bali bombs, and Noordin Mohammad Top.

Azahari was killed by police in eastern Indonesian in November 2005, while Noordin Mohammad Top is still at large, as is Dulmatin.

Their work was allegedly responsible for the massive explosions which rocked Legian Street in Kuta, Bali, on the early morning of 12 October 2002, leaving 202 people dead.

The attack was a team effort, but it apparently provoked different reactions from those involved.

Police said Imam Samudra stayed in Bali for several days after the bombing to survey the devastation he wrought and observe the reactions of people he affected.

Ali Imron shed tears in court, and repeatedly expressed remorse for his actions.

Amrozi laughed and joked about his case, and gave a thumbs-up sign when he was convicted. He has said he is happy to die a martyr.

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