TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police’s anti-terror squad Densus 88 arrested 59 suspected terrorists in several regions throughout October 2023. Spokesperson Sr. Come. Aswin Siregard said 40 of them, who are members of the ISIS-affiliated Jamaah Anshor Daulah or JAD group, committed a series of terror plans to thwart the 2024 election.

Of the 40 suspected terrorists, the police arrested 23 people in West Java, 11 people in Jakarta, and six people in Central Sulawesi.

“Based on the statements of several suspects, for them, the general election is a series of democracy which is immoral and against the law,” Aswin said at a press conference at the National Police Headquarters, on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

With such understanding, Aswin added, they intended to derail the election by attacking election security officials. The 40 suspected terrorists were detained on October 27-28, while the other 19 who were part of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group were arrested on October 2-23.

“JI still exists. They are not just sympathizers, they are structural members of JI. They are still actively spreading radical propaganda through social media and holding physical training,” Aswin said.

In detail, one person was arrested in West Sumatra, one in West Java, five in South Sumatra, four in Lampung, one in West Kalimantan, and seven in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Aswin also said Densus 88 confiscated pieces of evidence from 59 suspected terrorists, including 1947 Avtomat Kalashnikova or AK-47, ammunition, explosive chemicals, and propaganda printed media.

YUNI ROHMAWATI

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