A radical cleric linked to the Bali nightclub bombings was freed from prison

A radical cleric linked to the Bali nightclub bombings was freed from prison Friday, stirring grief and anger among victims nearly two decades after more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in Indonesia’s worst terror attack.

Abu Bakar Bashir, 82, is seen as the spiritual leader of Islamist terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which was responsible for the massive blasts that ripped through a pair of packed bars in October 2002.

The firebrand preacher was released after completing an unrelated jail term for helping fund militant training in conservative Aceh province.

But he has long been suspected of involvement in the horrific holiday island bombings, which came just a year after the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

A van with Bashir inside left Gunung Sindur prison near the capital Jakarta at around 5:30 am Friday (2230 GMT Thursday), accompanied by members of Indonesia’s elite counter-terror squad.

Bashir was expected to return to his hometown, Solo city.

Sentenced to 15 years in 2011, his term was later cut due to sentencing reductions handed to most prisoners in Indonesia.

Bashir had been previously jailed over the Bali nightclub bombings, but that conviction was quashed on appeal.

He has repeatedly denied involvement and his exact role remains unclear.

“But he had to have approved it either directly or indirectly,” said Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones.

‘Warmly welcomed’

The Bali bombings prompted Jakarta to strengthen cooperation with the US and Australia on counter-terrorism.

Indonesian security forces largely dismantled JI in the years after the 2002 attacks, and a subsequent 2005 bombing on the holiday island.