Spreading Terrorism Propaganda On Social Media, 4 Citizens Of Uzbekistan Arrested By Densus 88 Police

Head of the Public Information Bureau (Karopenmas) of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Pol. Ahmad Ramadhan, Tuesday (4/4/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Special Detachment 88 Anti-terror Team of the National Police arrested four Uzbekistanns suspected of carrying out terrorist activities through propaganda on various social media platforms. Head of the Public Information Bureau (Karopenmas) of the National Police's Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, explained that in this disclosure the Police Anti-terror Detachment 88 Team collaborated with the North Jakarta Class I Immigration Office. "The four Uzbekistan foreigners are suspected of being involved in terrorist activities through propaganda on social media and are part of an international and Middle East terror organization called Katiba Tawid Wal Jihad," Ramadhan said in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, April 4. The four Uzbekistan foreigners, namely BA alias JF (32), OMM alias IM (28), BKA (40), and MR (26). The four of them traveled to Indonesia on the Istanbul-Abu Dhabi route for transit, then entered Indonesia via Malaysia on January 29, 2023. In carrying out this journey, said Ramadhan, the foreigners departed separately. Two of the four foreigners departed ahead of Indonesia on February 6, 2023, while the other two departed three weeks later and arrived February 27, 2023. From the results of the investigation, it was stated that the three foreigners on behalf of BA, OMM, and MR were part of an active international terror organization in the Middle East region, especially Syria. While the other named BKA has the role of providing financial support and fake documents. "Of the four, three are active and are part of a terrorist organization and one is a supporter or provider of financial support as well as the creation of fake documents," Ramadhan said. Ramadhan explained BA played director in 2021 by militias of international terror organizations and left Uzbekistan to Turkey. BA will be sent to militia camps in Syria. While in Turkey, BA was involved in propaganda related to radical or extremist thought and global jihad. He is tasked with organizing acceptance and delivery to the Katiba group Tawadh Wal Jihad to realize his intention to carry out acts of terror. “ Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Uzbekistan has opened a criminal case against him regarding radical ideological propaganda,” Ramadhan said. Then, the OMM actor acted as a supporter of the Katiba organization Tawid Wal Jihad in 2020 to go to Syria on the orders of the group's leadership in Syria. OMM, continued Ramadhan, completed subversive terrorism training in militia camps and was actively involved in the group's activities. Then, MR as director in 2020 by international organization Katiba Tawahid Wal Jihad and sent him to Syria. In Aman MR completed subversive terrorism training in 2022. Furthermore, BKA, based on information from the Uzbekistan State Security Service, is being monitored as an individual who provides assistance to his three colleagues. " “BKA is also responsible for making fake documents and helps in supporting finances with the aim of making their subversive aspirations successful," said Ramadhan. From this case, the National Police's Anti-terror Detachment 88 secured evidence in the form of Uzbekistan passports belonging to four suspects, both domestically and internationally, one "moneygram" recipient, one aircraft "booking" code sheet and then iPad, several cellphones, and several "screenshots" of posts containing propaganda.

Spokesperson for Densus 88 Anti-terror Polri Kombes Po. Aswin Siregar said the status of the four foreigners was not detained, his party was still coordinating with the Immigration authorities regarding the further process of taking action. “Meanwhile, they are still being arrested or arrested, not detained. Still coordinated with related parties,” said Aswin.