Stevani Wijaya, Jakarta – The National Police's counterterrorism squad Detachment 88 has arrested five suspected militants during recent raids in the Central Sulawesi towns of Palu and Sigi, a spokesman said on Friday.

The five suspects are believed to be sympathizers of the shadowy regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Four were arrested in Palu, identified by initials AF (41), KB (52), MA (42), and ZA (42), and the remaining suspect RA (46) was arrested in Pidi, according to National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Ahmad Ramadhan.

"The five terror suspects in custody are members of the JI network in Central Sulawesi," Ramadhan said in a statement.

After the raids on Thursday afternoon, the squad seized documents, knives, telescopes, and a pellet gun from the suspects.

Jemaah Islamiyah, which aims to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia, is blamed for the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people mostly foreigners, and a string of other major attacks in following years.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/police-arrest-five-suspected-militants-in-central-sulawes