Jakarta (AsiaNews) – A police officer was killed in Poso (Central Sulawesi) by a mob during the funeral of terrorist leader, an veteran of the Afghan Jemaah Islamiyahi¸ who died this morning in an Indonesian police operation. The officer, Brinda Dedi Hendra, died instantly in the cemetery.

The incident began when a rumour spread among Muslims who had gathered for the funeral that a prominent Muslim community leader, an ustadt, had been killed by the police.

Police deputy spokesman Brigadier General Anton Bachrul Alam denied the claim. Instead, he said that the man killed in a shootout with the police was identified as Rian also known as Santoso alias Abdul Hakim, 40, a veteran from the war in Afghanistan, and considered number two in the so-called called Afghan Jemaah Islamiyah, who also knew Muklas, jailed for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bomber.

Rian is suspected of chairing a secret meeting between Indonesian Muslim extremists in Tawang Mangu (Central Java) soon after the Bali bombings that killed 202 people five years ago.

He was also wanted for his involvement in the beheading of three females students in Poso in October 2005.

In this morning’s clash with police a second terrorist, Ibnu, died and another nine were arrested. That currently leaves 24 terrorists on the run.

Indonesian Police Chief General Sutanto has called on Muslim community leaders to cooperate with the authorities and has urged the wanted men to give themselves up.