Densus 88 Arrests Meatball Vendor for Suspected Links with ISIS

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police's anti-terror elite squad Detachment 88 (Densus 88) has apprehended an individual suspected to be a member of hardline Islamist group Islamic State (IS). Densus personnel arrested th 35-year-old resident of Kedungkandang district in Malang, Tonori, on Thursday, March 26, 2015. 

Several armed and armored officers nabbed Tonori while he was sitting in front of his home with his wife and children, who were surprised when the police showed up to apprehend the father of five. 

"My son-in-law is not a criminal, so why was he arrested?" said Tonori's father-in-law, Muhammad Satar. Up to this point, Densus 88 has yet to release any information on the reasons why Tonori was arrested, or if he was indeed a part of the terrorist network. 

It is known that Tonori works as a meatball vendor for Achmad Junaedi, another suspected IS member, who was arrested on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. 

East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anas Yusuf, meanwhile, has denied that an arrest of a suspected terrorist has taken place. However, he did say that his officers were investigating the extent of IS infiltration in the vicinity of Malang, especially it is strongly suspected that a group of 18 new IS recruits have departed for Syria. 

"We have not made any more arrests, but we have three suspects in custody," said Yusuf. 

Helmi Alamudin of Karangbesuki sub-district, Abdul Hakim from Kasin sub-district, and Acmad Junaedi of Bumiayu sub-district in Malang, were arrested on the same day at three different occasions, and are currently being detained at the Mobile Brigade B Headquarters in Ampeldento, Malang. 

"Four witnesses have been questioned in relation to the arrest," explained Yusuf. 

Helmi Alamudin—similar to Abdul Hakim Munabari—is suspected to be a follower of Salim Mubarok Attamimi a.k.a Abu Jandal Al Yemeni Al Indunusi. Both are known to be actively involved in Quran recitation and religious discussions chaired by Salim, who is known to turn radical after having met some Islamist fighters. 

Salim is best known as a Malang resident who joined IS senior ranks and recently threatened the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) members through a Youtube video. The East Java Police are intensifying their efforts in investigating the existence of Salim's cells and followers in Malang. 

The three suspected IS members under arrest are known to have spent around six months in Syria, where they were trained in a camp near the Iraqi-Syrian border. 

EKO WIDIANTO