The Al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school also known as Pesantren Al-Mukmin and Pondok Ngruki, is a pesantren located in Ngruki, a suburb in the city of Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. It was founded 1972 by the alleged 'spiritual head' of Jemaah Islamiah, Abu Bakar Bashir, and by Abdullah Sungkar. Al-Mukmin's activities were initially limited to religious discussion after dhuhr. Following increasing interest, the founders expanded Al-Mukmin into a madrasah and then into a pesantren. It currently houses over 2000 students aged between 12 and 18. A number of people linked to the school have been implicated in a series of SunniIslamist terrorist attacks; the International Crisis Group has described the school as an "Ivy League" for Jemaah Islamiah recruits. Pictures of AK47s are hung in hallways, and a sign above a classroom reads:
"Death in the way of Allah is our highest aspiration."
Abdurrahim Thayib - A former teacher who was sentenced to Nine years in prison in February 2009 for aiding and abetting JI military commander Abu Dujana.
Among the school's graduates are: Connected to the 2002 Bali bombing which killed 202 people.
Fadlullah Hasan. - Gold that was stolen from a bank and converted to cash was deposited in Hasan's bank account, before being used to finance the Bali attack.
Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi, - who was killed in Mindanao, Philippines. He was convicted in the December 2000 bombing of a Manila commuter train in which 22 people were murdered.
Zulkarnaen - led an elite militant squad, whose members were recruited from hundreds of Indonesians who trained in Afghanistan and the Philippines.
Abdul Rauf also known as "Sam bin Jahruddin". Bali bombings suspect, member of JI cell with Imam Samudra. Attended Pondok Ngruki from 1992 to 1997. Reportedly helped make the Bali bombs. Reported as killed, fighting in Syria.
Aris Munandar, - alleged to be a JI fundraiser and who is still at large.
Asmar Latin Sani - the suicide bomber in the 2003 Marriott attack. His severed head was later found on the fifth floor of the building.
Joni Hendrawan aka "Idris", "project manager"
Muhammad Saefudin - met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan several times in 2001. Saefudin was alleged being groomed as the future Jemaah Islamiah leader.
Muhammad Rais. - met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan several times in 2001, and conveyed bin Laden messages to Abu Bakar Bashir. Convicted for storing the explosives used in Marriott hotel bombing.
Masrizal bin Ali Umar - Secured the detonators used in the blast with Azahari Husin.
