Risk Intelligence (03/03/2021) - Indonesia
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POLICE INVESTIGATE TERROR PLOT IN EAST JAVA INVOLVING JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH
Police are investigating an attack plot by members of the al-Qaeda affiliated Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network following the arrest of more than 20 suspects in raids across East Java, Indonesia.
The police special counterterrorism unit Densus 88 detained 12 suspects in Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Mojokerto and Malang on 26 February, while nine others were arrested in Surabaya, Malang, Kediri and Bojonegoro on 1 and 2 March. Densus 88 seized dozens of homemade rifles and firearms, bladed weapons, bows and arrows, and books on jihad.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono said that the arrests followed investigations into other JI members arrested in recent months. Hartono said that the suspects had participated in martial arts training and had also prepared a bunker in which they could assemble homemade weapons and bombs.
One of the suspects who was arrested in Malang regency had participated in a regular archery training in Pakis district. Police also alleged that the suspects had prepared an escape route for those members assigned to carry out the attack, however they did not reveal any details about the plot itself.
Densus 88 is still pursuing other suspects related to the alleged plot.
Hill & Associates Assessment
Jemaah Islamiyah maintains a highly structured network across Indonesia and recent arrests indicate that its members continue to plot attacks.
Police investigations into Aris Sumarsono (alias Zulkarnaen) - the commander of JI’s military wing at the time of the Bali bombings in 2002 - who was arrested in December last year revealed that a special unit called “Tim Qosh” trained and prepared young members for attacks.
The network in East Java was tasked with seeking explosive materials and managing storage. The suspects recently arrested there were also linked to Taufik Bulaga (alias Upik Lawanga) - the successor to Dr. Azahari, JI’s Malaysian bomb maker who masterminded the 2005 Bali bombings and the 2003 JW Marriott bombing in Jakarta. Upik was arrested during a counterterrorism operation in Lampung in November last year.
Densus 88 is expected to arrest more suspects related to the recent raids in East Java.
JI’s resilience is partly attributed to its funding system that includes a monthly contribution of about five percent from the income of its estimated 4,000 members across the country. JI also continues to recruit new members through religious outreach.
Authorities still believe that the group’s leadership remains opposed to the use of violence and that its goal is to build an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia which it aims to achieve through religious outreach, particularly sermons at a village level where it can target youth for recruitment.