The National Police’s Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88, also known as Densus 88, of Indonesia, and the Central Sulawesi Police’s Mobile Brigade arrested three suspected terrorists in Palu City and Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi. It is reported that these suspects have links with the group operating in the mountainous regions of Poso, Parigi Moutong, and Sigi regencies within Central Sulawesi, namely Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT). MIT is said to be in contact with the Jamaah Islamiyah group, Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, the Poso conflict, and former Indonesian terrorist leader Abu Bakar Ba’asyir.
One of the suspects, identified as W, also known as Mut, was arrested in Palu. He was located in one of his relative’s homes in Jl. Pue Kodi, Baiya Subdistrict, Tawaeli District. W is one of those suspects who has run away for nearly 11 years. Now, he was also found on the police wanted list. The second suspect was named AS, who was arrested from the Ampana district. Then there is RR who has been nabbed from this place, Ampana.
A local neighbourhood unit chief in Baiya, Adi Suwarman, said he was not aware of W’s presence at the house.
“W’s relatives never reported his presence to the neighbourhood unit,”
he said, adding that the arrest served as a reminder to residents to report any guests or relatives staying with them to prevent such incidents.
In the course of the operation, Densus 88 seized evidence, including a bag, a mobile phone, and identification cards.
The arrests come at a time when Indonesia’s Coordinating Political and Security Affairs Minister, Budi Gunawan, recently announced that the country had improved in the global terrorism index. The 2023 GTI ranked Indonesia 31st, up from 24th last year, putting it in the “Low Impacted by Terrorism” category. According to Minister Gunawan, the improvement is attributed to the efforts of various parties in prevention and law enforcement.
However, Gunawan said that the fight against terrorism is far from over. He emphasized that the government’s focus now is to maintain the progress made, especially with the rise of cyberspace abuse that can accelerate radicalization.
“The state must ensure the safety of all citizens, both in the physical world and in cyberspace, which can be misused for terrorism,”
he said.
