Farouk Arnaz, Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The gun-waving woman who was gunned down at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta has fired at least six shots into officers before her death on Wednesday afternoon, a top law enforcement official said.
The woman is identified as Zakiah Aini, 25, who lived with her parents in Ciracas, East Jakarta. She came to the police headquarters on Jalan Trunojoyo, South Jakarta, at around 4.30 p.m.
"She entered the area from the back gate and went directly to the check point at the main gate unsuspected, asking where the post office was. An officer showed her the way," National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said in a news conference.
But moments later she returned and began firing shots, at least six times, as she walked around the front yard of the Criminal Investigation Agency building. Her actions prompted officers to return fire, leading to her death.
An officer involved in the investigation said Zakiah carried a nitro piston air gun commonly used in sporting.
Sigit added Zakiah was a university dropout who supported global terror network Islamic State, after investigators looked closely at her social media accounts.
"She was supportive of ISIS radical ideology based on her social media posts," Sigit said, using another acronym for the terror group.
Zakiah created a new Instragam account where she posted an Islamic State flag picture in less than 24 hours before the attack, the top officer said.
"There were also remarks about jihad. When we searched her home, we found a letter and WhatsApp chats indicating farewell message to her family," Sigit said.
He confirmed that Zakiah has acted alone. Apart from being an Islamic State sympathizer, investigators have not confirmed if Zakiah belongs to a certain terror group.
The incident came only three days after the church bombing in Makassar, South Sulawesi, blamed on homegrown terror group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). A married couple blew themselves up in front of the church, injuring at least 20 people.
A neighbor of Zakiah said the woman didn't have a regular job and spent her time helping her parents who run a small store at the house.
"I have never expected that she could use a gun," said the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. He added Zakiah was an introvert who rarely talked to people in the neighborhood.