Foiled Suicide Bomb Attack on State Palace Could Be Related to IS
Jakarta. A female suicide bomber was set to carry out a terror attack on the State Palace in Jakarta on Sunday, Dec. 11, during the weekly Car Free Day, police said.
Jakarta Police spokesman Chief Comr. Martinus Sitompul said the woman, identified by her initials DYN and who was arrested with two other terror suspects on Saturday afternoon, was a member of a terror cell in Solo which the police suspect could be related to IS, the Islamic State.
A letter seized from the woman said she was ready to commit "amaliyah" – a code word among militant groups for a suicide bomb attack.
Bomb maker associated with IS fighter
On the same day, SY, a.k.a. Abu Izzah was arrested in Sabrang Kulon Matesih, Karanganyar, Central Java. The police believe SY made the bomb to be used in the attack and is a member of the Bahrun Naim terror cell based in Solo, Central Java.
Bahrun is an Indonesian terrorist who has pledged allegiance to IS and is now believed to be fighting with IS fighters in Syria.
"SY assembled the bomb which [another suspect] NS took to Jakarta. We will question him further," another police spokesman Chief Comr. Rikwanto said as quoted by state-run news agency Antara.
On Saturday night, the high-explosive bomb found in DYN's possession was detonated safely by the police.
IS in Southern Philippines
According to the police, many new and unidentified terror recruits in Indonesia have pledged their allegiance to IS as the militant group tries to build an empire in Southeast Asia.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said IS has a plan to base themselves in the Southern Philippines and Indonesia needs to be extra cautious.
"I just came back from the Philippines. And as I said six months ago, they [the terror group] will only get bigger and we need to stop them," Ryamizard said in Jakarta on Friday.
The minister said Indonesia has to stop IS from setting up a headquarters in the Southern Philippines as this will undoubtedly compromise Indonesia's national security.
For that same reason, lawmaker Charles Honoris urged BIN, the State Intelligence Agency, with the help of the military and the national police, to set up their own plan to block IS' foray into Southeast Asia.
Charles also claimed that IS has already infiltrated a number of terrorist networks inside Indonesia. "A few hardliner groups had been identified as IS' proxies. Some prominent hardline figures have even pledged allegiance to IS openly," Charles said.
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