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More suspects linked to Bahrun Naim nabbed
Stay strong: Residents and human rights activists hold a candle vigil to express solidarity and concern at Thursdayâs terror site on the intersection of Jl
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Stay strong: Residents and human rights activists hold a candle vigil to express solidarity and concern at Thursdayâs terror site on the intersection of Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. KH Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta on Saturday. The event was also held to emphasize that Indonesians and Jakartans in particular are not afraid of the terrorism acts. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
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span class="inline inline-center">Stay strong: Residents and human rights activists hold a candle vigil to express solidarity and concern at Thursday's terror site on the intersection of Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. KH Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta on Saturday. The event was also held to emphasize that Indonesians and Jakartans in particular are not afraid of the terrorism acts. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
The National Police have arrested 12 people suspected of being linked to Bahrun Naim, an alleged Islamic State (IS) recruit whom the authorities have blamed for Thursday's attacks around the Sarinah shopping center in Central Jakarta.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti announced on Saturday that the 12 men had been arrested in Java and Kalimantan.
'The raids that we have conducted since the evening of [Jan.] 14 have resulted in the arrest of perpetrators or people related to the terrorist acts at Sarinah,' he said at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Saturday.
Although Badrodin declined to identify the 12 arrested, he said that one of them had personally received funds directly from IS in Syria.
'We can't give you their names or initials. We will announce them on a separate occasion but what is clear is that they are part of Muhammad Bahrun Naim's group,' he said, adding that investigators had one week to gather enough evidence before naming them terrorist suspects based on Law No. 15/2003 on Terrorism.
According to the law, those arrested for terrorism can only be detained for one week and must be released if investigators cannot find sufficient evidence to press charges.
The attacks occurred at around 11 a.m. on Thursday with explosions and gunfire erupting near the Sarinah shopping center on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta. The location is about a kilometer from the State Palace and surrounded by government and private offices, hotels and malls.
The police have pointed the finger at Bahrun, who was once convicted of the illegal possession of firearms and is currently thought to be in Syria, as the most likely orchestrator of Thursday's attacks. The attacks themselves were carried out by five people thought to be linked to Bahrun.
Separately, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal identified those killed at the site, including four Indonesians ' Dian Jodi Kurniadi, Afif, Muhammad Ali and Ahmad Muhazan bin Saron ' whom the police have positively identified as the perpetrators.
The police have also identified Rico Hermawan, born in 1995, as one of the victims who died in an explosion at the police post on Jl. MH Thamrin, where he had been taken due to a traffic violation.
The other victim has been identified as Canadian Amer Quali Tahar, born 1946, who died after being shot by one of the gunmen. His younger brother, identified only as Marex, was also shot but is currently being treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta.
However, Iqbal said that the police were continuing their investigation to ascertain whether one of the deceased, identified as Sugito, was a perpetrator in the attack or an innocent bystander.
'The man identified as Sugito may be a perpetrator, but he may also just be a civilian. We are still looking into this,' he said.
Iqbal added that several victims who suffered severe injuries, including Dutch national Yohanes Antonius Maria and Austrian Manfred Stoif, would be transferred to hospitals in Singapore at the request of their respective families and embassies.
Meanwhile, in a related development, a showdown between the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) with members of the East Indonesian Mujahiddin (MIT) militant group on Friday may have led to the death of its most-wanted leader Santoso.
Although there has yet to be an official confirmation of the identity of the dead terrorist suspect, The Jakarta Post has obtained a photograph that appears to indicate the dead man had a distinct resemblance to Santoso.
Deputy Central Sulawesi Police chief Sr. Comr. Leo Bona Lubis acknowledged that a terrorist suspect had been killed but did not definitively state that the suspect was Santoso.
However, Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola said he had received information from a reliable source that the dead suspect was Santoso and he encouraged the police and TNI to 'continue their operation and sweep clean those groups who spread terror in Poso and its surroundings'.
An ex-combatant in Poso, Pian Djumpai, said that the photograph of the victim did closely resemble Santoso. However, he would not confirm the identity.
'Yes, he looks similar,' Pian said.
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