1-8-2024 (JAKARTA)Â Indonesia’s elite Detachment 88 (Densus 88) anti-terror squad has apprehended a 19-year-old terror suspect in Batu City, East Java. The arrest, which took place on Wednesday evening, has potentially averted a series of devastating attacks in the region.
Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, Head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police’s Public Relations Division, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday. “On July 31, 2024, at 19:15 Western Indonesia Time, one suspect with the initials HOK was secured,” Trunoyudo reported.
The young suspect, identified only as HOK, is alleged to have been planning suicide bombings at two places of worship in nearby Malang. According to the investigation, HOK intended to carry out these attacks using the highly volatile explosive Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), a substance notorious for its use in terrorist activities due to its relative ease of manufacture and potency.
“The suspect was planning to conduct suicide bombings at two religious sites in Malang, East Java,” Trunoyudo elaborated. He further revealed that HOK is believed to be a sympathiser of Daulah Islamiyah, a term often used to refer to the Islamic State (IS) group or its affiliates in Indonesia.
This arrest underscores the ongoing threat of extremism in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, which has grappled with terrorism for decades. It also highlights the crucial role of Indonesia’s counter-terrorism efforts in preventing potential attacks before they can be executed.
The suspect is now facing charges under Article 15 in conjunction with Article 7 and/or Article 9 of Law Number 5 of 2018. This legislation amends the earlier Law Number 15 of 2003, which ratified Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism.
