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Police round up suspected terrorists in Greater Jakarta
The National Police’s Densus 88 antiterrorism squad has made a string of raids and arrests in Greater Jakarta so far this month
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The National Police’s Densus 88 antiterrorism squad has made a string of raids and arrests in Greater Jakarta so far this month.
Three arrests were made on Monday alone, with one in Depok and one in Bekasi, both in West Java, as well as one in East Jakarta.
A suspected terrorist identified only as B. was arrested at 1 p.m. in Pancoran Mas district in Depok. The police raided B’s rented house on Jl. Sasak 2 in Cilodong district four hours after his arrest.
According to local residents, police officers arrived at the house at 5 p.m., kompas.com reported.
Neighborhood unit head Agus Waluyo said B and his wife had lived there for five months.
Densus 88 also detained on Monday terrorist suspects in East Jakarta and Bekasi, respectively identified as MS and A. MS was arrested in Mahoni Park in Ciracas at 9:30 a.m., while A. was apprehended at Taman Tridaya Indah II Residence in South Tambun at 9 a.m.
“We are investigating and developing [the case],” National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said, noting that both were declared suspects after the arrest of terrorist suspect E, alias AR, in Bogor, West Java, on May 17.
The police have arrested 68 terrorist suspects from across the country so far this year.
During a raid on E’s house in Cibinong district, Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Andi Moch. Dicky said the police had seized explosive materials, such as nitroglycerine and triacetone triperoxide, and an active homemade explosive device. They also seized cooking pots and nails as well as books on jihad and assembling bombs.
Before E. was arrested, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Muhammad Iqbal said 29 terrorist suspects had been arrested so far this month. They are believed to be members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an outlawed group linked to the Islamic State group.
“The JAD [members] allegedly harbored a wanted person in Lampung and planned a terror attack on a crowd on May 22 using a bomb,” Iqbal said.
The attack, Iqbal added, was reportedly to be staged at the General Elections Commission (KPU) building in Central Jakarta on the original date the commission was slated to announce the results of the presidential election.
However, the KPU announced the final results of the vote recapitulation early Tuesday, naming Joko “Jokowi” Widodo the winner of the presidential election.
On May 8, the Jakarta Police arrested an alleged terrorist at a mobile phone store, Wanky Cell, on Jl. Muchtar Tabrani in North Bekasi. Densus 88 found two pipe bombs during the raid.
On May 6, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Densus 88 investigators identified suspects in Babelan, Bekasi regency, and Jatiasih, Bekasi municipality. The police detained one terrorist suspect, while the other one reportedly blew himself up before he could be arrested.
“The suspect arrested in Wanky Cell was the leader. He was the coordinator of the other suspects we arrested,” Argo said, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
Besides two pipe bombs, Densus 88 also confiscated fertilizer booster, hydrogen chloride, white powder and several types of bottled liquid.
Besides the arrests in Greater Jakarta, terrorist suspects were also arrested in Lampung and Tegal in Central Java and in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
In Bima, Densus 88 arrested six individuals on suspicion of terrorism on May 18. NTB Police chief Brig. Gen. Nana Sudjana confirmed the arrests and said the six were being interrogated at the NTB Police station. (vla)
