Source Reveals Details of Riau Terrorist`s Life prior to Arrest

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian anti-terrorism special ops Densus 88 arrested three suspected terrorists at the University of Riau on Saturday, with one of the suspects being Muhammad Nur Zamzam or Jack that police stated was responsible for assembling the explosives and drawing public support through Instagram.

One of our sources who claims to have long-known Zamzam said that the student who majored in social and political science had established a Whatsapp group with a purpose to study religion. “[Zamzam] invited us into the group,” said the Tempo source on Saturday evening, June 2.

According to our source’s observation, the group had already gained a large number of members when he was invited into the chat forum. “I partially recognized the people, but I didn’t recognize many of them,” said our source who decided to leave the group after he was perplexed by it.

Furthermore, our source said that Zamzam had always been actively involved in the university’s outdoor group (Mapala FISIP) and was known to be a sociable and friendly person. However, Zamzam underwent a major change in demeanor in the past year. Zamzam would often debate on the fact that Indonesia’s laws were produced by mere mortals.

“He often engaged in debates ever since studying about religion,” said our source.

Other than Zamzam, police also arrested two other students strongly suspected to be involved in terrorism, BM and ED. However, police have yet named them as suspects and are still questioned as witnesses.

University of Riau Rector Aras Mulyadi condemned the plan of a terror attack by the three campus alumni. “We truly regret and condemn that there were activities that would lead to a possible bomb attack,” said the rector.

RIYAN NOVITRA