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Nine arrested during Nov. 4 rally have links to IS: Police
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Muslim protesters march in Jakarta on Nov. 4 during a demonstration calling for the prosecution of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy. Police said on Saturday nine of the people they arrested during the rally have connections to the Islamic State movement. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
P
olice claim nine of the people they arrested during a massive Nov. 4 rally in Jakarta have links to the militant Islamic State (IS) group.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar claimed the nine were believed to have involved themselves in the rally to make it descent into chaos.
“They intended to grab police guns during the rally, but failed since the officers were not equipped with guns,” Boy said on Saturday as reported by kompas.com.
The rally in front of the State Palace in Jakarta, during which protesters demanded the government to prosecute Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy, ended in violence when two police cars were set on fire.
Boy said the nine people were identified as Saulihun alias Abu Musaibah, Alwandi alias Aseng, Reno Suharsono, Dimas Adi Syahputra, Wahyu Widada, Ibnu Aji Maulana, Fuad alias Abu Ibrohim, Zubair and Agus Setiawan.
Saulihun had reportedly been active in recruiting Indonesians to join IS in Syria, while Reno allegedly picked up those who returned from the conflict area in the Middle East.
The remaining seven members were allegedly involved in training volunteers who wanted to join the group, Boy claimed. (jun)
