"Until now, there has been no connection between East Java and Makassar," said head of the public information bureau of the National Police's public relations division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono, at a press conference at the Police Headquarters here on Wednesday.
The JAD network in East Java was cut off from the JAD network operating in Makassar, South Sulawesi, he informed.
The Special Detachment (Densus) 88 anti-terror team of the Indonesian Police is investigating the role and activities of the JAD group in East Java.
"The group in East Java, even though they belong to the JAD group, is being investigated,” Hartono said.
Earlier, two suspected terrorists were arrested by the Densus 88 team in Tulungagung and Nganjuk in East Java province.
One of the two suspects, identified by his initials as MM (45), was arrested in Tulungagung and the second, identified as LAM (25), in Nganjuk. Both are believed to be members of the JAD group in the East Java region, Hartono said.
While making the arrests, police seized several pieces of evidence — two firearms, a laptop, a cellphone, and a book on "jihadist fiqh”, he informed.
"The Densus is currently studying to solve the problem of terrorism in East Java and in the country in general," Hartono remarked.
From February to March, 2021, a total of 22 suspected terrorists were arrested in East Java, he informed. They were believed to be members of the Fahim group, part of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, he added.
All suspected terrorists from East Java were brought to Jakarta for further legal proceedings on March 18, 2021. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Laily R, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
