(AFP) updated version

Indonesian police have arrested a 26-year-old Malaysian man over the bombing of two churches and a shopping mall in Jakarta which left dozens injured, reports said today.

The unidentified man had allegedly been waging a jihad (holy war) in Indonesia over the past year by joining attacks against Christians in Ambon in the Maluku islands, The Star newspaper said.

Police were quoted as confirming the arrest, and said they were investigating if the man had links with the "Malaysian Mujahideen Group", whose members were recently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

In Jakarta, police said they did not yet know the man's nationality.

"We have not yet determined whether he is Malaysian... it's only speculation," said Jakarta police spokesman Anton Bachrul Alam.

Malaysia would leave it to Indonesia to take action against the man, Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

Islam did not teach its followers to go on a jihad to create trouble and destroy development, he said.

"We are also on a jihad , I am on a jihad too, but we don't go to attack people's country.

"We are on a jihad to eradicate poverty to develop Muslims and the country," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

The Star said Jakarta police detained the man after he was injured, along with four others, in the August 1 bombing of the Atrium mall in central Jakarta.

Hospital officials at the time identified the man, whose leg was amputated, only as Dodi. They said he claimed to be a resident of South Jakarta but did not specify his nationality.

Guerilla warfare

Sources told the Star that the man, a graduate from Johor, travelled with 10 other Malaysians - all trained in guerrilla welfare - to Ambon to attack Christians.

He then teamed up with other militant groups in Jakarta and according to local police, was allegedly responsible for the Atrium blast.

Utusan Malaysia quoted sources as saying the man was also involved in two bomb blasts at Christian churches in Jakarta which injured 64 people.

Earlier this month, 10 Islamic activists, including seven opposition party PAS members were detained under the ISA on suspicion of being part of an Afghan-inspired militant group waging a jihad here.

Among those detained included PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's son who is accused of being the ringleader.

In June, police detained nine members of another group allegedly responsible for a spate of crimes including robbery, the murder of a politician and the bombings of a church and Hindu temple.

Police claimed that both these groups are linked.