TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police’s Anti-terrorism Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) arrested three suspected terrorists in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Tuesday, September 3.

South Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Didik Supranoto said that the investigation is still afoot. “[We are] still examining them, so we have not known yet their identity, chronology, and so on,” said Didik to Tempo, Wednesday, September 4.

During the arrest, the police seized several documents and weapons.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said the three that have been named suspects are identified as CA alias Enal, A bin U alias Angga, and AS alias Putra alias Siregar.

“The three suspects will join a terror group (the East Indonesia Mujahidin or MIT) led by Ali Kalora,” said Dedi when asked for confirmation on Thursday, September 5.

He explained they are not local people, but from other provinces who deliberately visited the region to join the terror group. The Police's Densus 88 are also examining the man who took CA, A, and AS to Palu.

According to Dedi, the three were ready to carry out amaliyah or terrorism operation as they always brought machetes, pipe bombs, or sharp weapons with them. They had already passed the military training (idad). “They learn to shoot, assemble low to high-explosive bombs.”

ANDITA RAHMA