Riau Terrorist Groups Play A Role In Hiding Fugitives From Densus 88

ILLUSTRATION/BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The National Police said that the Jemaah Islamiyah network terrorist group that was secured in the Riau region played a role in hiding wanted terrorism cases. They are known to have been hiding fugitives for a long time.

"This group plays a role in carrying out or helping to hide if there is a police DPO that concerns Jamaah Islamiyah when it moves to Riau," said Karo Penmas of the Public Relations Division of the Police Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono to reporters, Tuesday, June 15.

"So these 13 people are in charge of hiding the DPO Densus 88, especially from the JI group, to secure themselves in Riau," he continued.

Based on the investigation, this group hiding fugitives has taken place in December 2020. One of the suspected terrorists hidden by this group is Para Wijayanto.

"What is clear is that from a few months ago, the Wijayanto had run and hidden for some time, one of them was in Riau. If they were hiding in Riau, one of them would be secured by the group," said Rusdi.

"There are other DPOs who of course do the same thing when they secure themselves to Riau, this group will back up instead of security activities," continued Rusdi.

Not only that, based on the examination, this group also conducted war training. For example, the use of firearms and so on.

"Training rather than the use of weapons, both training in the use of sharp weapons, and the use of firearms," said Rusdi.

Previously reported, the Special Detachment 88 Anti-terror Team of the National Police arrested 13 suspected terrorists in the Riau area on Monday (14/6).

The National Police's Anti-terror Detachment 88 Team has continued to carry out terrorism prevention and countermeasures since January 2021, a number of suspected terrorists have been secured in a number of areas.

The arrests of suspected terrorists continued to be intensified after the suicide bombing at the Makassar Cathedral Church, South Sulawesi, on March 28.