Asip Hasani, Blitar, East Java – The National Police's Densus 88 antiterrorist squad has arrested three suspected terrorists in Blitar regency, East Java, who authorities believe are connected to the perpetrator of a recent attack against Wonokromo Police in Surabaya.
The three, who have been identified as Kurniawan Joko Wicaksono, 48, Subagio, 53 and Joan Puji Puji Santoso, aka Aslam, 47, were arrested in different locations in Blitar city and regency last week.
"The arrests are related to the investigation into an attack on a police officer in the Wonokromo Police headquarters," Blitar Police chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Anissulah M Ridha said on Tuesday.
On Aug. 17, a man pretending to file a report – identified only as IM, 30 – was arrested by Wonokromo Police after he suddenly stabbed a police officer who was on guard duty.
The police later found a bladed weapon, a replica firearm and papers emblazoned with the logo of the Islamic State (IS) terror group inside IM's bag.
Anisullah added that IM was a "lone wolf" as the suspect had no affiliation to a specific terrorist organization, however, he had connection with other suspected terrorists.
"So [the arrested individuals] are related to [IM] even though it was a 'lone wolf' attack," Anisullah said.
According to community unit (RT) heads in the areas where Kurniawan and Subagio lived, Densus 88 personnel seized several boxes of books about jihad, a bow and arrows, sickles and a computer at the scenes of the arrests.
Didit, a community unit head in Beru village where Subagio lived, said Subagio was once arrested by the antiterrorist squad along with dozens of other suspected terrorists in a number of locations in Blitar in June last year.
"However, [Subagio] returned home, maybe because of a lack of evidence or for some other reason," Didit said on Saturday. (tru)