Militant note found in Cirebon bomber's book

The National Police found a book containing a provocative message that hinted at suicide bomber Muhammad Syarif's intentions of attacking.

Muhammad detonated a bomb attached to himself inside a mosque at the Cirebon police compound as Friday prayers were underway.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I Ketut Yoga Ana said investigators had confiscated a book titled War at the End of Time, written by Sheik Muhammad Sa'af.

"A message, which we suspect belongs to Muhammad Syarif, was found on the back cover of the book. The message said that he [Muhammad] wanted to die a holy death [syahid]. He had to perform a holy war [jihad] to attain a holy death," Yoga said.

The book was found at Muhammad's in-laws’ house on April 18. The police also found a circuit which could be a bomb construction component, he said.

The message, he added, hinted that Muhammad had planned his suicide bombing.

"He had actually prepared himself for the act because he seriously wanted to die a holy death, to perform a jihad," he said.

However, he said the book could not be linked yet to a specific terrorist group.

"We have not concluded as of now which [terror] network he belonged to," Yoga added.