TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Muhammad Iqbal, a former terrorism convict from the Cibiru group in Bandung, was allegedly involved in the terrorist attack took place in Kampung Melayu, Jakarta. Police presume that Iqbal acted as the motivator of the two suicide bombers.
“Their affiliations are still being investigated. But Muhammad Iqbal is an Islamic study teacher (ustad) for Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) in Bandung. One of his students is the Kampung Melayu bombing suspect,” says Police Public Relations Officer Comr. Yusri Yunus on Tuesday, June 6.
Iqbal was considered to be one of many bomb assemblers in the terrorist group. He was captured in 2010 together with a number of Cibiru group members. He was found guilty of terrorism act and was sentenced to a 6-year of imprisonment in 2011.
Muhammad Iqbal was arrested on Monday, June 5, in Sumedang.
A former member of the Cibiru group Kurnia Widodo said that Iqbal was the right hand for Aman Abdurrahman, leader of JAD.
Kurnia said that he lost contact with Muhammad Iqbal since they were confined together at Cipinang penitentiary in 2012. According to Kurnia, Iqbal chose to adopt the takfiri ideology immediately after his release.
“They [Muhammad Iqbal and Aman Abdurrahman] decided to adopt takfiri ideology and joined ISIS, meanwhile I’m against ISIS,” Kurnia Widodo explained.
IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S
