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Police on alert over potential terrorist infiltration in anti-Ahok rally
The National Police are on high alert for the infiltration of any terrorist groups among the planned mass prayer on Friday at National Monument (Monas) square, Central Jakarta.
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Muslim protesters march during a demonstration in Jakarta on Nov. 4. Police are on high alert for possible terrorist infiltration of another rally on Friday. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
T
he National Police are on high alert for the infiltration of any terrorist groups among the planned mass prayer on Friday at National Monument (Monas) square, Central Jakarta. The event participants demand the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.
"We are conducting early detection for any potential of terrorist attacks. Police have committed to detect the whereabouts of terrorist networks that may try to take advantage of the event," National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said in a press conference on Wednesday.
(Read also: No anti-Ahok rally on Friday, but mass prayer: Jokowi)
In late November, police revealed that nine alleged terrorists in Abu Nusaibah group had joined the Nov. 4 rally to attempt to form Daulah Islamiyah (Islamic sovereignty) in the country.
The nine men, who were arrested several days after the rally, had planned to hoist the Islamic State flag that day, Boy said.
Boy said the group, which had been inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), had followed the protesters in front of the State Palace, the House of Representatives as well as the groups who committed looting of supermarkets in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, to take advantage of the chaos.
"We can't say that there won't be any terrorist groups that try to take advantage of the Dec. 2 event. However, we are working hard to prevent any chances of that from happening," he said. (jun)
