The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit killed two alleged terrorists and arrested two others in a shoot-out in Tulungagung regency, East Java on Monday, confiscating a bomb from the four in the process.

The suspects were allegedly the accomplices of fugitive terrorist leader Santoso.

National Police chief spokesman Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said on Monday that Densus 88 operatives approached the four suspects at a coffee shop on Jl. Pahlawan in Kedungwaru, Tulungagung, at 8:45 a.m.

'They were waiting for a public minivan when the squad tried to arrest them. One suspect, Dayat, brandished a gun and shot at Densus 88 officers. They became involved in a gunfight,' Ronny said in South Jakarta.

Dayat, alias Kim, and an accomplice, Rizal, were killed in the incident. Their remains were taken to Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Kediri, East Java, for autopsies.

The bodies were then sent to Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Surabaya and Jakarta.

Two remaining suspects, whose names have not been released, surrendered and are being interrogated by Densus 88 personnel.

Local media reports, however, revealed the two arrested suspects were Mugi Hartanto, 38, a contract teacher in Pagerwojo district, Tulungagung, and Sapari, 49, an employee of Penjor village in Pagerwojo district, Tulungagung.

Mugi and Sapari were injured and are being treated at the Gambiran General Hospital in Kediri city.

Densus 88 personnel and Tulungagung Police officers had tailed the suspects since Sunday evening.

Other reports said Mugi and Sapari met with Dayat and Rizal at the coffee shop when a car stopped outside and armed men disembarked from the car, attempting to arrest the four terror suspects.

The suspects resisted arrest with Dayat taking the coffee shop owner, Mimin, hostage.

Police officers were forced to shoot Dayat in the head while Rizal was shot in the leg.

'That's why they had to be neutralized,' East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono told reporters in Tulungagung.

The two deceased terror suspects hailed from Medan, North Sumatra, and were believed to have been in East Java for the past three months. They had kept moving and entered Tulungagung three days ago.

A civilian, Sujono, was injured in the shoot-out, sustaining an injury to his hip in the raid. He is currently being treated at the Dr. Ishak General Hospital in Tulungagung.

From the raid, Densus 88 confiscated two motorcycles, a revolver and a bag containing a bomb, Ronny said without elaborating.

The four suspects allegedly conducted a series of robberies to finance terror acts led by Santoso.

'They were involved in a series of terror-linked crimes in Poso, Central Sulawesi; Surakarta, Central Java; Medan, North Sumatra and Bali,' Ronny said.

Among the cases was the 2010 CIMB Niaga Bank heist in Medan, in which a 16-man gang gunned down a police officer and made off with Rp 370 million (US$37,000).

'We found indications that they were trying to amass money to finance their next act [prior to Densus 88's raid],' Ronny continued.

The four also allegedly helped Santoso to recruit and train new combatants.

Meanwhile in Medan, authorities had still not recaptured four terrorist inmates who escaped from Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary along with 214 other prisoners on July 11.

The inmates ' Fadli Sadama, Agus Sunyoto, Nibras and Abdul Gani Siregar ' were sentenced for their involvement in the 2010 Bank CIMB Niaga heist.

Popular

UN says initial findings show roadside blast killed Indonesian peacekeepers

Indonesia approves 580 million tonne coal production plan, signals output boost

Indonesia rations fuel as prices soar over Mideast war