Palu. An alleged terrorist, identified as Irwanto, or Abu Muhammad, was nabbed for reportedly planning an attack on a church in Palu in Central Sulawesi on New Year’s Eve, police said on Monday (02/01).

30-year-old Irwanto was arrested during a raid by antiterror unit Densus 88 on Jalan Bali in North Lolu, a village in East Palu, on Saturday at 1.20 p.m.

Police claimed the arrest was made just a couple of hours before the suspect was supposed to carry out attacks on a church and a house belonging to Shi'ite Muslims in Palu.

During the raid on Irwanto’s rented home, police confiscated a knife, five books on jihad, a manual on bombmaking and a modified phone that was allegedly going to be used to trigger a bomb.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Supt. Haru Suprapto said Irwanto had detonated two small handmade bombs in an experiment before the planned attacks.

"The suspect had intended to round up young extremists to join his new terror cell after realizing [slain fugitive] Santoso’s group has been cornered in Mt. Biru in Poso," Hari said.

Tinombala Operation extended to catch nine fugitives

Operation Tinombala, a terrorist-hunting operation which involved both police and military officers, has been officially extended until April 3 to search for nine remaining fugitives. The operation had been scheduled to end on Monday.

The remaining fugitives are Firdaus, or Daus, a.k.a. Barak Rangga; Kholid; Asgar a.k.a. Jaid; Qatar a.k.a. Farel; Abu Alim; Nae a.k.a. Galuh; and Basir a.k.a. Romzi – all from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

The other two are Ali Ahmad a.k.a. Ali Kalora and Mohammad Faisal, or Namnung, a.k.a. Kobar.

The men are members of the East Islamic Mujahidin group now on the run in the hilly jungles of Poso.