T

he National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has disclosed that terror groups in Medan have the potential to commit attacks in the region, especially in North Sumatra, because they are still actively connected with terror networks in cities across Java.

BNPT head Insp. Gen. (ret.) Ansyaad Mbai said terror groups were still believed to be operating in Medan and its surrounding areas. The former North Sumatra Police chief said the groups were still active and potentially able to execute attacks.

“Their strength remains. I cannot say their numbers, but they have the potential to commit terror acts in Medan,” Ansyaad said on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Conflict and Radicalism Research Center in North Sumatra between BNPT, the provincial administration and North Sumatra University (USU) at the USU Pharmacy Hall on Monday.

Ansyaad said the terror network in Medan and its surrounding areas had connections with terror groups in Surakarta (Central Java), Cirebon (West Java) and East Java. The terror group in Medan, added Ansyaad, was believed to be linked with Jamaah Islamiyah’s terrorist cell Jamaah Ansyarud Tauhid, led by Abu Bakar Ba’asyir and the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) movement.

Ansyaad said that most members of the remaining terror groups in Medan were local residents. Despite that, he added, many of them came from outside the area because terrorism was a global issue. “One of the influential terrorist figures in Medan is Toni Togar, who is currently detained on Nusakambangan island. A number of detained terrorists were under his control,” said Ansyaad.

Togar was arrested for his involvement in the Bank Lippo robbery in Medan in 2003, which killed three people. He was believed to be involved in the funding and recruitment of the JW Marriott Hotel bomb attack in 2003 together with Noordin M. Top and Dr. Azahari. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2003.

Police said Togar also was believed to have plotted a number of armed robberies in Medan from his prison cell.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police confirmed on Monday that the police’s elite counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, had begun its investigation into a gang of armed robbers believed to be responsible for the recent assault on two police officers in Bekasi.

“[The suspects’] criminal cases are being handled by the Bekasi Police, while Densus 88 will take over investigation of their alleged role in terrorism,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters.