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Indonesian, Australian troops hold joint antiterrorism drill
Fifteen terrorists managed to gain control of the international departure terminal of Ngurah Rai International Airport on Tuesday morning, seizing local and foreign passengers
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ifteen terrorists managed to gain control of the international departure terminal of Ngurah Rai International Airport on Tuesday morning, seizing local and foreign passengers.
The incident was part of a joint antiterror training and handling exercise conducted by the Indonesian Military’s Special Forces unit (Kopassus) and the Australian Special Air Service (SAS).
As part of the simulation the “terrorists” demanded the government release all imprisoned terrorism suspects within 48 hours and provide logistics, drugs and a reserve pilot to make their escape. They even shot one of the hostages.
The Indonesian Military chief then commanded Kopassus to free the hostages and regain control of the airport.
Following simultaneous attacks by the troops of Kopassus and the SAS, some of the “terrorists” died.
Within six minutes, the two forces managed to release the hostages and take control of the situation at the airport.
The drill is conducted every year, with Indonesia and Australia alternating as hosts.
Fifty Kopassus personnel and 20 others from the SAS were deployed during the drill, using six helicopters and dozens of motorcycles.
Kopassus commander Maj. Gen. Lodewijk F. Paulus, who led the operation together with SAS Maj. Gen. Tim McOwen, said the joint training was held to improve the troops’ skills in field operations, including on hostage release.
“We work together with the SAS and hold this training in Bali since the island remains a primary destination for Australian tourists,” he said.
In 2002, as many as 88 Australian holiday-makers were killed in the island’s most popular tourism resort Kuta when a group of terrorists linked with Jamaah Islamiyah detonated a powerful car bomb in front of a packed night spot.
The simultaneous bombing was the single deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history with 202 people killed.
McOwen said he expected Kopassus and the SAS would be able to build closer cooperation in handling terrorism and remained prepared to maintain stability.
“We are very pleased to work together with Kopassus. They are very professional, and we expect to see more cooperation in the future,” he added.
