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JAD cells work independently yet connected through social media
JAD members were scattered across the nation yet connected through chatting apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, through which they updated each others' plans.
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Police Mobile Brigade personnel collect evidence after a raid on a house believed to be the residence of a suspected terrorist's parent in Lampung on Oct. 15. (Antara/Ardiansyah)
R
ecent crackdowns on the Islamic State-linked homegrown militant group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) reveal how IS sympathizers in Indonesia work independently, in different cells, but connected through social media.
The National Police revealed recently that the JAD members were scattered across the nation yet connected through chatting apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, through which they updated each others' plans.
"However, they do not use the platform to design attacks together. A member would just declare his plan for an attack and ask for the others' blessing before committing the crime," the National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo told journalists on Oct. 14.
He further said the impact of every attack would be different.
“[The impact] would depend on the capability of each attacker," he said, adding that JAD members would perform attacks by any means from using fatal explosive devices to simply using knives or scissors.
An alleged IS sympathizer, identified as Abu Rara, assaulted then-coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister Wiranto in broad daylight in Banten last week using a Japanese-style blade called a kunai. The attack was performed together with his wife, FA, who reportedly stabbed a police officer in his back using a pair of scissors.
Police said the couple was not an active part of JAD, although they were previously involved in the group's Bekasi chapter led by IS-ideologue Abu Zee.
