As A Transit Line, Police Track The Merauke Terrorism Network In Timika

Mimika Police Chief AKBP IGG Era Adhinata/ Antara

JAKARTA - Mimika Resort Police, Papua, are still tracking the possibility of terrorist network cells being arrested in Merauke in the Timika region.

Mimika Police Chief AKBP IGG Era Adhinata said that the Timika area became a transit point for terrorist groups arrested in Merauke from Friday, May 28 to Sunday, May 30.

"The fact is that Timika is a transit route for the terrorist group arrested in Merauke. Until now we have not received further information whether there are terrorist cells in Timika. We are still waiting for further information on the results of the investigation into the terrorism case in Merauke by the Densus 88 Team. Anti-Terror Police," said Era Adhinata in Timika, quoted by Antara, Monday, May 31.

The Mimika Police Chief emphasized that if terrorist cells were arrested in Merauke and also in the Timika area, his staff would take firm steps in the form of legal action.

"If there is, of course we will make arrests like what happened in previous years," explained AKBP Era Ahinata.

Head of the Mimika Kesbagpol Agency Yan Selamat Purba said his staff continued to coordinate with all mass organizations in the region to prevent the entry of the Ansharut Daulah terrorist group and network into Mimika.

"We have warned our friends from mass organizations, FKUB and others not to let the incident in Merauke happen in Timika. If you see inappropriate symptoms, for example there is an unusual gathering that raises suspicion, immediately report it to the authorities, said Purba.

On Sunday, May 30, the Special Detachment 88 Anti-terror Team at the National Police Headquarters arrested another member of the Ansharut Daulah terrorist network in Merauke. Earlier on Friday, May 28, the authorities arrested 10 suspected terrorists in the Deer City.

Merauke Police Chief AKBP Untung Sangaji said that of the eleven suspected terrorists arrested by Detachment 88, two of them were husband and wife.

They have a five year old son. The two suspected terrorists, who are a married couple, have the initials AP and IK.

The ten suspected terrorists arrested in Merauke on Friday had the initials AK, SB, ZR, UAT, DS, SD, WS, YK, AP and IK.

"There have been 11 people arrested in different locations in Merauke City and several districts around Merauke City, namely in Jagebob, Kurik, Tanah Miring," he said.

Eleven suspected terrorists arrested by Densus 88 in Merauke belong to the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) network.

This network is linked to the terrorist group that carried out the bombing at the Makassar Cathedral Church at the end of March 2021.

The suspected terrorists were in Merauke allegedly to carry out attacks on houses of worship.

"They want to shoot or place bombs in the church but we (security forces) are full (on guard) at the church," he explained.