T

he National Police confirmed on Thursday that the individuals apprehended and killed during antiterrorism raids in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday are linked to a radical group in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

“The suspects hail from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara and are connected with Umar bin Khatab, an Islamic boarding school in Sonco Sanolo Village, Bima Regency,” National Police Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Thursday.

Police raided the Umar bin Khatab Muslim Boarding School in July 2011, after a bomb explosion claimed the life of Suryanto Abdullah (alias Adnan Firdaus) a teacher and the treasurer of the school.

Police broke into the school building after dozens of locals, armed with sharp weapons and home-made bombs, obstructed entry for two days. The police found bomb production materials as well as weapons and Jihad videos in the school.

Following the discovery police arrested Abrori, the leader of Umar bin Khatab Islamic Boarding School, at his parents’ house in Bolo Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

On Wednesday morning, the National Police Densus 88 antiterrorism unit shot three suspected terrorists in Kalora village, Poso, killing one and wounding the others. The Police claim the suspects apprehended are responsible for the recent slaughter of two policemen who were guarding a branch of Bank Central Asia in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

The deceased suspect, identified as Jippo, was an alleged member of the Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), an organization founded by terrorist convict Abu Bakar Ba’asyir.

Two of the other suspects, Nasir (also known as Cecep) and Mamat (also known as Rahmat) notified the police of a computer shop located in Bakti Agung Village, North Poso.

“The suspects concealed their activities through the cover of a computer repair shop in North Poso, which we raided on Wednesday night,” Boy said.

During the shop raid, the police confiscated explosive materials, five home-made bombs, four pipe bomb casings, walkie-talkies, electronic circuits, a laptop, cell phones and computer service equipment.

There were no other suspects arrested in the shop raid.

According to Boy, Nasir, Mamat along with two other suspects, Imam and Salman have been taken to Brimob headquarters at Kelapa Dua, Jakarta.

“We caught Imam and Salman after we held a vehicle raid in Poso several days ago,” Boy said, adding that Iman and Salman are alleged to be active in military training organized by radical groups in Poso.