Eight Suspected Terrorists Detained

The Jakarta Globe, October 31, 2013.


Densus 88, the country’s anti-terrorism unit, has captured eight terrorist suspects in two days for their alleged involvement in the shooting of police officers at three locations in South Tangerang in Banten province.

“This morning, eight people have been arrested. Six of them were arrested yesterday and two were captured this morning. Their roles included assembling guns for the perpetrators [to shoot police officers],” newly appointed National Police chief Gen. Sutarman said on Thursday.

Sutarman would not disclose the identity of the individuals who funded the terrorists’ operation, which was believed to have come from a bank robbery in Lampung.

“These eight people were the ones who arranged the vehicles [motorcycles], the weapons and funding,” the national police chief said.

Aside from previously stating that the focus would be on creating a peaceful environment for next year’s general elections, Sutarman also vowed to crack down on terrorism, saying that the number of terrorist groups continues to grow.

“It’s like a cell. If we kill one, new cells emerge and create new activities. That’s why we need to address this problem cooperatively,” Sutarman said.

The general added that the eradication of terror cells required strategies that include preventive measures to combat the problem.

“In the past our strategy was to make arrests after a terrorists attack. Now our strategy is to make arrests before they attack to prevent any economic impact. We will face all the risks despite being criticized for it,” Sutarman said.

Two police officers were shot and killed in Bintaro, Tangerang, in August by two unidentified men on motorcycles. That was the third police shooting in less than a month in the area.

Police have accused a terrorist network linked to Abu Roban of involvement in orchestrating the attacks.

Abu Roban, who led a religious study group in Tangerang, was killed by Densus 88 in a raid in Kendal, Central Java, in May. His network is known as Mujahidin Indonesia Barat.



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