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Densus 88 pursues more suspected terrorists in Surabaya
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On guard – Members of the National Police Densus 88 counterterrorism squad stand guard during a recent terrorism search. The police have continued to pursue additional members of an alleged terrorist network following the several suspects in Surabaya, East Java. (Persda Network/Bina Harnansa)
T
he National Police Densus 88 counterterrorism squad continue to pursue allies of four suspected terrorists arrested in Surabaya, East Java, last Wednesday said National Police spokesperson Insp.Gen.Boy Rafli Amar.
Based on preliminary police investigations, several members of their [alleged] terror network remain in the city, he added.
“Based on an investigation of the suspects, we are now looking at several other names,” said Boy as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday, refusing to provide further details regarding how many people the police were targeting.
Police investigators are preparing case documents of the three detained terror suspects, identified by the initials PHP, BRN and FN, Boy said. The police will continue to investigate the fourth terror suspect arrested in the raid.
Specifics regarding how the suspects managed to obtain weapons and explosive materials remains unknown, according to police. Densus 88 personnel confiscated evidence comprising three bombs, two long barrel rifles, a pistol, chemical liquid, a bayonet and cell phones. The police believe that the suspects had planned to launch suicide bombings at public crowds and to attack police peronnel.
Boy said it was predicted that the attack plans had been prepared when PHP and FN, two of the four terrorists arrested in Surabaya, were released from prison. PHP had been imprisoned due to a drug-related crime while FN had been involved in an unspecified criminal case. PHP and FN became acquainted with radical networks while in prison, said Boy.
National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian said the terrorist network in Surabaya was linked to the Islamic State (IS) movement, who have called on its followers to commit terror attacks during Ramadhan. (ebf)
