wo suspected terrorists who were shot dead during a shootout with Densus 88 counterterrorism squad personnel in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, were members of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) terrorist group, National Police have confirmed.
JAD in Bima is strongly believed to be affiliated with the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT), a terrorist network in Poso, Central Sulawesi, National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said.
The MIT was previously led by Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, before he was killed in July last year and replaced by his followers.
“According to the [police] data, the group in Bima is closely linked to the [terrorist] group in Poso,” Setyo told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He went on to say that members of the MIT terror group had repeatedly entered Bima. The JAD network in Bima also received instructions from the late MIT leader to carry out attacks in the city, Setyo said.
As previously reported, the shoot-out between the police’s Densus 88 antiterror squad and four terrorist suspects took place on Mawu Dalam hill, Bima. Two among the four suspects, identified as Amir (also known as "Dance") and Yaman, were killed, while the two others managed to escape and remain at large.
The dead suspects were also believed to be behind the shooting incidents in Bima on Sept. 11, during which two police officers, identified as Chief Brig. Jainal Abidin of the Bima Police’s Sabhara rapid response unit and Chief Brig. Gafur of the Langgudu Police in Bima, were shot in two different locations. (afr/ebf)
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