The National Police'€™s counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, conducted a series of successful overnight operations against terrorists with links to the Abu Omar and Autad Rawa groups, the police say.

The 20 terror suspects '€” seven killed and 13 arrested '€” in the raids across Java are linked to the groups that collect money to support the activities of mujahidin (those engaged in jihad) in Poso, Central Sulawesi.

Early investigations indicated that the men had been involved in armed robberies at Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) offices in three cities.

'€œThey stole Rp 790 million [US$81,192] from BRI in Batang and Rp 630 million from BRI Grobogan [both in Central Java]; and Rp 460 million from BRI Lampung. They also attempted to burn down Glodok Market in West Jakarta,'€ said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The suspects carried out various initiatives to collect money, including robbery.

'€œFour alleged terrorists were planning a robbery in Kebumen [Central Java], when they were arrested in an overnight raid in the regency,'€ said Boy.

It is alleged that one suspect, Abu Roban alias Untung, had been involved in some robbery cases '€” a jewelry store in Tambora, West Jakarta; as well as the three BRI offices '€” before Densus 88 officers killed him in Batang.

Police linked the suspects with Santoso, who is believed to be behind a series of attacks in Poso over the past few years.

Santoso himself is a former member of a terror group led by Basri, a member of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group. Basri surrendered to police after a gunfight on Feb. 1, 2007, in Poso where a Muslim-Christian conflict killed at least 1,000 people over the course of 1998 to 2002.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Densus 88 personnel raided areas in Batang, Kebumen and Kendal in Central Java; Bandung in West Java; and Banten. During the raids, the officers shot dead seven suspects and 3 others were captured alive.

'€œThe terror suspects killed during the raids were identified as Abu Roban, Bastari, Toni, Bayu alias Ucup, Budi alias Angga, Junet alias Encek and Sarame,'€ Boy announced.

The suspects captured alive in Jakarta were Agus Widharto, Agung, Endang, Faisal alias Boim and Iman.

Iwan and Puryanto were arrested in Kendal. While four others '€” Budi, Farel, Slamet and Wagiono '€” were apprehended in Kebumen.

The two suspects arrested in Bandung were Haris Fauzi alias Jablud and William Maksum, alias Acum alias Dadan.

The bodies of the three dead men were flown to Dr. Sukamto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Thursday after being examined at Bhayangkara Hospital in Semarang.

During the raid in Ciputat, Densus 88 officers confiscated Rp 25.48 million, while in the Bandung raid, the police found two revolvers, an FN Browning pistol, hundreds of bullets and Rp 6 million in cash.

In Kendal, the police seized one revolver, nine bullets, a notebook and a USB, while in Kebumen they found two pipe bombs, grenades and FN pistols, in a house in Kembaran hamlet.

Some residents in Kembaran said that the entourage of alleged terrorists had only stayed for around 10 days in the hamlet and they had introduced themselves as jamu (herbal medicine) sellers.

Following the raids, West Java Police called on the owners of boarding houses to check the identity of their tenants.

'€œThe owners must have copies of their occupants to avoid unexpected occurrences,'€ West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said.

'€œWe also asked the public to increase their awareness by organizing night patrols.'€

Some of the villagers in Kembaran, Kebumen regency, had returned to their houses by Thursday afternoon.

One of them, Hastuti, said her family had taken refuge at a relative'€™s house on Wednesday night.

Others began repairing the damage inflicted on their houses following the shoot out between Densus 88 personnel and the alleged terrorists.

Santoso'€™s link to a series of terror attacks

September 2012: police arrest a man named Hasan alias Wendi with suspected links to a Surakarta-based terrorist group at Pantoloan Port in Palu, Central Sulawesi. Hasan had reportedly participated at a military training conducted by Santoso in Poso where he was reportedly taught how to assemble explosives.

May 25, 2011: the shooting of three police officers in front of a Bank Central Asia (BCA) branch in Palu. Two dead, one injured.

Oct. 8, 2012: the murder of two police officers, Andi Sappa and Sudirman, in Tamanjeka hamlet, Poso Pesisir.

Oct. 9, 2012: a bomb attack at a community hall in Kawua subdistrict, Poso.

Nov. 15, 2012: the shooting of Poso Pesisir Utara Police chief First Insp. Bastian Taruklabi.

Dec. 20, 2012: the shooting of six police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members in North Poso Pesisir. Three dead and three others injured.

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