JAKARTA: The National Police’s anti-terror squad Densus 88 has arrested 13 suspected terrorists in four provinces in the wake of Sunday’s suicide bombing outside the Cathedral Church in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.
The 13 suspected terrorists were picked up in South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, and West Java provinces, chief of the National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said during a press conference in South Sulawesi.
“In Makassar (South Sulawesi), Densus arrested four people, identified by their initials as AS, SAS, MR, and AA,” he informed.
Prabowo said the four suspected terrorists had links to the two suicide bombers, identified by their initials as L and YSM, who carried out the attack outside the church. They belonged to the same study group called Villa Mutiara, he added. He said the four suspected terrorists played different roles in the bombing attack, including providing doctrine, preparing a plan for jihad, and buying materials to make the bomb used in the attack.
While making the Makassar arrests, Densus 88 also simultaneously searched the homes of suspected terrorists in Condet, East Jakarta and Bekasi, West Java.
From the two locations, Densus 88 nabbed four suspected terrorists, identified by their initials as A, AH, AJ, and BS.
During their search, Densus 88 also seized bombs and explosives as evidence.
“The police found five active bombs, axis bombs, five large jars containing explosive chemicals, sulphur, flashfolder, and thermometer. These materials, weighing 4 kilograms, were to be processed into explosives. Other explosives, weighing 1.5 kilograms, were also found,” Prabowo informed.
In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Densus 88 arrested one suspected terrorist, bringing the number of suspected terrorists from Jamaah Ansharut Daullah (JAD) to be arrested to five.
“In total, five suspects have been arrested. As the investigation is still underway, (more suspects) will be arrested in the near future,” the police chief said. He urged the public to remain calm and not to panic while the police investigate the terror act and chase the terrorist groups.
“I call on the public to remain calm and not to panic over the terrorist issue. It is our duty to investigate it thoroughly,” he remarked.
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