Densus 88 Arrest Suspected ISIS Affiliated Terrorist In South Sulawesi

JAKARTA - The National Police's Anti-terror Special Detachment 88 team arrested a suspected member of the ISIS-affiliated terrorist group, MAS (18 years old), in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, Saturday (24/5).

Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID) Densus 88 Anti-terror Police AKBP Mayndra Eka Wardhana in his statement in Jakarta, Sunday, revealed that MAS is active in a digital communication channel that spreads content related to ISIS ideology, including inviting the act of bombing places of worship.

Based on the results of the investigation, he said, MAS is also known to manage and actively send various uploads in the form of images, videos, voice recordings, and writings containing ISIS propaganda in a messaging application group WhatsApp called Daulah Islamiah which was created since December 2024.

In the channel, he continued, there were discussions related to the law on the use of suicide bombings in the context of war that reflected ISIS extremist teachings.

Then the phone number used by MAS was identified as the main manager of the channel.

Furthermore, he said that the officers also secured a number of pieces of evidence, namely in the form of a motorcycle and a cell phone unit that was allegedly used for communication activities and the spread of terrorism content.

He also said that MAS had now been secured for further interrogation and investigation development.

Meanwhile, he said that Densus 88 is committed to continuing to eradicate terrorism networks, including those that use digital technology as a means of spreading radical ideologies.

"Densus 88 urges the public to remain vigilant and immediately report to the security forces if they find suspicious activities that have the potential to endanger public security and order," he said.