Terrorism (Singapore)

Escaped JI leader may head to Indonesia

Feb 28, 2008: A "security lapse" led to the escape of an Islamic militant leader Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the alleged leader of al Qaeda-linked Islamic militant network Jemaah Islamiah (JI) 's Singapore cell, he escaped yesterday from Singapore's detention centre at 4:05 PM. He walks with a limp and is presently at large.

Kastari was accused of planning to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi Airport in Singapore. JI is responsible for a string of regional attacks, including the 2002 bombings in the Indonesian resort island of Bali, which killed 202 people. He is born 23 January 1961, a Singaporean.

Singapore is linked by a bridge to neighboring Malaysia and it only takes an hour by ferry to the Indonesian island of Bintan.