Densus 88 Arrests 1 More Person, There Are 8 Suspected Terrorists In Total In Makassar

Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono

JAKARTA - Densus 88 Anti-terror Police have again arrested a suspected terrorist in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The suspected terrorist was the Villa Mutiara group, Biringkanaya, Makassar.

"Yesterday, a man with the initials I, 40 years old, was arrested. I is part of the Villa Mutiara group", said Head of Public Information Bureau (Karo Penmas) of the National Police's Public Relations Division, General Rusdi Hartono, to reporters, Wednesday, March 31.

Based on the interim investigation, the terrorist suspect with the initials I was part of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) terrorist network. But the question of the role of this suspected terrorist is still being explored.

"Now we are exploring the extent to which I was involved in JAD activities in Makassar", he continued.

With these arrests, said Rusdi, a total of eight terrorist suspects were arrested in Makassar. All of them are strongly suspected of having something to do with the suicide bombings.

"So until now 8 people have been secured in Makassar", he said.

Previously, seven terrorist suspects who were arrested in Makassar were with the initials AS alias AR, SAS, MR, AA, R alias M, AN, MM.

"AS or AR, his role is to participate in planning, follow studies at Villa Mutiara (Biringkanaya Makassar, red), then has pledged allegiance at FPI headquarters which is the now-forbidden organization headquarters", said Ramadhan.

Meanwhile, suspect R or M participated in conducting a survey to the target location of the Cathedral church bomb with the suicide bombers L and YSF alias D.

"This means that the point of committing the suicide amaliyah action has been planned", he continued.

Meanwhile, the AN terrorist suspect also attended the study at Villa Mutiara. AN according to the police taking allegiance at Villa Mutiara. Previously, On January 6, 2021, Densus 88 ambushed suspected terrorists at Villa Mutiara, Biringkanaya, Makassar.

Meanwhile, the MM terrorist suspect, a woman, is said to have knowledge of the planning of the suicide bombing carried out by L and YSF. According to Ramadhan, MM also encouraged both of them to do amaliyah.

"Regarding the terrorist suspects who have been arrested in Makassar, they are a group or directly affiliated with the JAD network", said Ramadhan, referring to this group in the same group at Villa Mutiara Biringkanaya, Makassar, which was ambushed by Densus 88 on January 6, 2021.