Operation Preventive Strike Densus 88 On The Island Of Sumatra, Capture 11 Suspected Terrorists

Security around the suicide bombing crime scene at the Astanaanyar Police, Bandung, West Java, (ANTARA PHOTO/Novrian Arbi/aww.)

JAKARTA - The Anti-terror Special Detachment 88 Team continues to take preventive strike (firmly prevention) steps by arresting as many as 11 suspected terrorists on the island of Sumatra.

"Densus 88 carried out preventive strike activities in the Sumatra region, successfully securing 11 suspected terrorists," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo at the National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Monday, December 19.

Dedi has not detailed in more detail the data on the eleven suspected terrorists who were arrested in the Sumatra region, and promised to be officially released this afternoon by the Public Relations Division.

Earlier Saturday (17/12), the Densus Team of the North Sumatra Task Force and the North Sumatra Police's DitIntelkam arrested a suspected terrorist named Indra Syaputra.

The suspect was arrested at a car repair shop on Jalan SM Raja, Bandar Sono Village, Tebing Tinggi City, North Sumatra.

Then, the North Sumatra Anti-terror Detachment 88 Team and the North Sumatra Police Intelligence and Security Team conducted a search at the suspect's house in Kangen Water, Pondok Ringin area, Tebing Tinggi City.

From the search, officers confiscated a number of evidences including three backpacks, rain bag protective carpets, one sword, the perpetrator's cellphone, an arrow, and seven arrows.

In addition to confiscating, Densus investigators also returned the suspect's belongings in the form of a car, cash amounting to Rp1.2 million, wallet containing Rp150 thousand in cash, one STNK, one SIM A, SIM C and debit card.

Regarding the anticipation of terror at Christmas and New Year celebrations, Dedi said, before the 2022 Candle Operation was carried out, the Densus 88 Anti-terror Team and the Densus Kasatwil in the region continued to carry out strike preventive monitoring and operations.

For this reason, Dedi also asked the public to remain calm and ensure that the National Police together with other related elements would try their best to secure community activities in the 2023 Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"We also ask for the support of the community together to anticipate all possibilities that can occur in the celebration of Christmas and New Year 2023," said Dedi.