Azahari bin Husin in photo released by Indonesian police

Indonesia's national police chief says one of Southeast Asia's most wanted men may be dead.

General Sutanto says they hope to confirm the death of Malaysian bomb maker Azahari bin Husin Thursday.

Indonesian police raided a suspected militant hideout in Batu, in East Java Province Wednesday. At least three people are thought to be dead from the gunbattle and explosions that rocked the house. Police fear the building may be booby trapped and will wait for daylight before retrieving the bodies and making further investigations.

Witnesses say Azahari bin Husin may have blown himself up rather than be captured by police.

The fugitive terrorist is linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, a group seen as the regional arm of al-Qaida, and is accused of masterminding at least four deadly blasts in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.