3 Terrorist Suspects Detained, Plan Terror Attack This December

TheIndonesia.id - The National Police’s Counterterrorism Squad, Densus 88, has apprehended three terrorist suspects. Two were detained in Kotawaringin Timur district and one in Palangka Raya city, both in Central Kalimantan province.

The three suspected terrorists have been identified by their initials as A, MS, and RT FZ, chief of the public relations service of the Central Kalimantan Provincial Police, Senior Commissioner Kismanto Eko Saputro, informed on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, as quoted by Antara.

He said the suspected terrorists did not resist arrest. “Based on the result of an investigation, the three suspects were allegedly involved in a plan to launch a terror attack in this province at the end of 2021,” he said.

One of the suspected terrorists was arrested at Hotel Hawai on Bubut Street in Palangka Raya and the others at Jelawat Palace in Kotawaringin Timur on Tuesday, he added.

During the search, Densus 88 seized several pieces of evidence from the suspected terrorists, who are believed to be affiliated to Islamic State, he informed. The evidence included locally assembled firearms, sharp weapons, military training uniforms, ideology books, and other terrorism-related materials, Saputro said.

Earlier, on December 16, 2021, Densus had arrested 14 suspected terrorists in the three provinces of North Sumatra, Riau Islands, and South Sumatra. Nine suspects were arrested in North Sumatra, one in South Sumatra, and four in Riau Islands, spokesperson for the Indonesian Police, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Ramadhan, said last Friday.

He, however, did not provide further information on their links with terrorist networks Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) or Jamaah Ansharud Daulah (JAD).

Following a suicide bombing at the Makassar Cathedral Church, South Sulawesi, on March 28, 2021, Densus 88 has intensified its crackdown on terrorist groups, including JI and JAD.

Densus 88 is currently targeting JI's top ranks by arresting amirs, or leaders, including the masterminds and fundraisers of terrorist organizations, officials said.

On December 13, 2021, Densus 88 arrested four suspected JI members in South Sumatra, who allegedly hid other members and raised funds for the group.