Terrorists see Jakarta, big cities as targets: Expert

Terrorists are more likely to launch attacks in big cities such as Jakarta, National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Ansyaad Mbai says.

“In terms of potential [targets], [Jakarta] is number one. Other big cities would also be potential targets,” Ansyaad said at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

“If you execute [a terrorist attack] in the mountains no one will know about it. It’s the attention they're looking for,” he said.

Ansyaad said the recent bomb attacks were not masterminded by small sects.

"The inspiration comes from mainstream groups," he said.
Ansyaad identified terrorist Umar Patek as categorized a member of such a mainstream group.

“There has been radical movements since 1999, with a list of names. The terrorism cases seem unrelated, but the figures in these cases have connections to these mainstream figures [such as Patek]," Ansyaad said.