"The difficult terrain and geographical factors in Central Sulawesi prevented the police from capturing Santoso," Haiti explained.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Police faced certain difficulties in nabbing the countrys most wanted terrorist Abu Wardah, alias Santoso, due to geographical factors and lack of support from the local community.

"Besides geographical implications, the local community sympathized with Santoso and extended support to him and his extremist group," National Police chief General Badrodin Haiti said here on Monday during a joint meeting with members of DPRs Commission III and National Police.

"The difficult terrain and geographical factors in Central Sulawesi prevented the police from capturing Santoso," Haiti explained.

Haiti remarked the police and Indonesian Military (TNI) launched Operation Camar Maleo I to IV but failed to lay their hands on the fugitive.

"During the operation, the police captured some of the perpetrators of Santosos group along with 825 weapons," Haiti noted.

Haiti said the police continued its efforts to capture Santoso and his radical group through Operation Tinombala.

"The operation was launched on January 10. We arrested three people in that operation, while one was killed," he said.

Haiti said that the terrorists targeted police officers.

"At least five of the 35 victims injured in the vicious attack at the Sarinah departmental store on Thursday were police officers," Haiti affirmed, adding that the attack was aimed at the police.

Earlier, the National Polices counter terrorism unit Densus 88 had arrested 19 people in the wake of the January 14 terror attack in Jakarta.

"Nineteen people were arrested. Of them, eighteen were detained and one was set free due to lack of sufficient evidence," National Police Chief, General Badrodin Haiti, said at the National Police Headquarters here on Friday night.

He said six of the 18 people are believed to be linked to the terror attack that occurred in Thamrin Street in Central Jakarta on January 14.

These six were identified by their initials as DS alias YY alias IA alias DD, AA alias AI alias AM alias AIS, C alias D alias AS, J alias JJ, AM alias LL alias AL, and A alias AZ alias AB.

Haiti said the gas cylinder to make the bomb is believed to have been bought by DS, while AS was believed to have bought firearms.

Both C and J are believed to be in possession of the expertise to make the bomb.

The police also arrested another group of six people, and charged them with possessing illegal firearms. They also played a role in supporting the Santoso-led East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist network.

These six people were identified by their initials as AF alias H alias AJ alias JT alias M, SF alias C alias MM alias DA, S alias STM alias A alias GD alias I alias P alias SB, B alias AM alias BB, WFB alias U alias AU alias AA, and MFS alias F.

At least eight people were killed and 20 others were left injured in the terror attacks carried out in Jakarta.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016