Image from Jakarta Post/ANN
JAKARTA (Jakarta Post/ANN): The National Police's counter-terrorism unit Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) has arrested 10 terrorist suspects in Central Java in a series of operations to secure the general election and regional elections this year.
The arrests in Central Java took place across four regions, namely Surakarta, Sukoharjo, Karanganyar and Boyolali. "One terrorist suspect [was arrested] in Karanganyar, three in Boyolali, five in Sukoharjo and [another] one in [Surakarta]," said Central Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Satake Bayu on Thursday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
One suspect named Mujiono is identified as a neighborhood unit (RT) head in Moho village, Surakarta, who also sells goods at the Klitikan Notoharjo market. According to a neighbor named Suprapto, Densus 88 arrested Mujiono after dawn prayers at Al Badar mosque. "[Mujiono] went to the mosque at dawn.
Later, his wife and child were looking for him, asking why he hadn't returned home. At 10 a.m., community protection officers notified the family, saying she had ‘guests’. Then [Mujono's wife] found out that there were already a lot of police [at her home]," said Suprapto, as quoted by Kumparan.com.
Suprapto said he saw several items being carried by the Densus 88 unit as they left Mujiono’s house, such as a bow and arrow set and an air rifle.
According to Suprapto, he and other residents only offered assistance during the arrest and the sweeping process to secure the location.
Densus 88 spokesperson Sr. Comr. Aswin Siregar said the team had been closely watching the suspects before the arrests. "Investigators are still working in the field. Please give us more time. We will update later through the National Police’s public relations [department]," said Aswin.
Previously, National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo ordered all police officers to be on their guard for terrorist activities that might occur during the elections. He also referred to terrorist incidents that occurred during the 2019 elections.
"Terrorism must be taken seriously. In the 2019 elections, there were six incidents of terrorism, and this must not happen in the 2024 elections," said Listyo. The country is scheduled to hold the general election on Feb. 14 and concurrent regional elections on Nov. 27.
In October last year, the antiterrorism squad arrested 59 suspected militants including some loyalists of the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) suspected of planning to disrupt the elections.
The police said 19 of those arrested were from the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network, which has ties to al Qaeda, while 40 suspects were from JAD, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) movement.
"For them, elections are immoral and against Islamic law," Aswin said. "They plan to attack police facilities. It relates to their main goal, which is to cancel the election," he added without giving any more detail of the suspected plots.
The suspects were detained in operations from Oct. 2 to Oct. 28 and police also confiscated some guns and bomb-making chemicals. -- The Jakarta Post/ANN
