Roundup: Indonesia nabs dozens of alleged militants, foils terrorist plots ahead of presidential inauguration

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, October 17, 2019
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by Mulyanda Djohan Adnan

JAKARTA, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian counter-terrorism squad has arrested dozens of alleged terrorists, thwarted scores of their plots and beefed up security ahead of inauguration of the country's new president.

Incumbent President Joko Widodo and his running mate Ma'aruf Amin won the April 17 presidential polls after beating rival former general Prabowo Subianto and his mate Sandiaga Uno, the winning pair is scheduled to take oath of the office on Sunday at a ceremony in Jakarta, the country's capital.

As many as 36 alleged militants have been arrested by the anti-terror squad, known as Detachment 88, across the country, including the country's tourism center of Bali resort island, since days ago, spokesman of national police Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo said.

Among the militants arrested was Abu Rara, who with his spouse stabbed Indonesian Chief Security Minister Wiranto on Oct. 10 in Banten province, according to police.

One local police chief and a civilian were also wounded during the attack by the alleged militants who are believed to be members of an outlawed Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) which claims allegiance to the IS group in Iraq and Syria, according to the police.

Most of the militants arrested by the squad were members of the cell affiliated with IS group, the spokesman revealed.

"We ensure that this group is loyal to IS group. Some of their members have been already arrested and some others are still at large," the spokesman said on Wednesday in Cosmo Amorossa Hotel, stressing that the squad keeps pursuing alleged militants across the country.

More than 31,000 police personnel and soldiers would be dispatched in an effort to boost security ahead and during the inauguration of President Jokowi, the popular name of the president, albeit there was no warning of possible strikes, he said.

During the crackdown against the militants, the anti-terror squad has seized pipe bombs, explosives, knives, airsoft guns and documents outlining the terrorist attack plots, according to the police.

In Cirebon district of West Java province, the police have found out that alleged militants had been working on chemical bombs containing methanol, the police cited.

Police office headquarters and worship places are among the target of the militants, and in recent years, the militants in the country have mostly shifted their target to government's top officials, policemen and worship places from Western and foreign targets.

Members of the JAD had staged in several terrorist strikes in Indonesia, including multiple suicide attacks in East Java and Riau provinces in May, 2018, and suicide strikes at a police station and a Starbucks Cafe in the heart of Jakarta that killed eight people in January 2016, according to the police. Enditem

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