"The information was obtained by the police from the arrest of two suspects outside Jakarta. They are part of the Islamic Reformation Movement (Garis) group who once declared support for ISIS," said Inspector General Mohammad Iqbal, National Police Public Relations Division Head, during ring a press conference at the Media Center of the Political, Legal and Security Coordinating Ministry (Polhukam), Jakarta, on Thursday.
Based on information from the two suspects, Iqbal continued, they intended to conduct a jihad at the demonstration on May 21-22.
"We did find strong evidence," he said.
According to Iqbal, one of the Chairmen of the Syuro Line Council was Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, a convicted terrorist who is currently languishing in Gunung Sindur prison, Bogor. The group even sent its cadres to fight in Syria.
"It is important to report to the public that there are really dark groups in the demonstration. This is a group suspected of being affiliated with ISIS. Now we are pursuing a character who has been named by the two suspects," he said.
Iqbal added, the Garis group participated in the riots during a peaceful action in front of Bawaslu and were not part of the spontaneous mass of demonstrators.
(INE)
Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
