One of the most wanted terror suspect, Noordin M. Top, who is known to be the mastermind behind the numerous terror strikes in Indonesia, the latest being the suicide bombing of two luxury hotels last month, has been reportedly killed in a police raid today. Indonesian authorities have been looking for Top for more than 6 years.

The raid was conducted by Indonesia’s top counter terrorism unit, Detachment 88, that has been conducting CT operations throughout Indonesia against suspected and known terror outfits and individuals. The gun battle went on for 18 hours, before Top succumbed to the overwhelming response from Detachment 88.

Along with last months hotel bombings, Noordin M. Top has also been known to be the man behind the attack on Australian Embassy in Jakarta in the year 2004, that claimed 16 lives and left more than 200 people injured. Top was known to to serve multiple positions in a splinter faction of the dreaded terror organization, Jemaah Islamiyah. He was suspected of being a recruiter, bomb-maker and trainer for the militant organization. In the year 2006, with a long list of deadly terror attacks attributed to Top, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) pushed Noordin to its list of Top 10 wanted terrorists.

According to Indonesian new agency ANTARA,

“Police officers entered the house and fired profusely inside the house while other policemen surrounded the house and opened its windows by force. Security forces had launched the raid after two people believed to be nephews of its owner were arrested earlier in the day.”

The gun battle that ended the life of Noordin M. Top began on Friday, and after 18 hours of intense firing and bombing, the officers of Detachment 88 were seen carrying caskets into the house, where Top along with 4 other fighters was killed. This latest development proves to be a great achievement for the Indonesian authorities.

Via CNN.