Indonesia Arrests ‘Dozens of Suspected Islamic Radicals’

[Valin]

AFP:

Sunday, 21 February 2016

 

JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesian police have arrested dozens of suspected Islamic extremists on Java Island, most of whom were allegedly carrying out military-style training on a remote mountain, police and reports said Saturday.

 

Around 30 were reportedly detained late Friday on Mount Sumbing as they took part in the training, while another five were arrested the same day in raids in the city of Malang. It was not clear whether they were linked to the gun and suicide attacks in Jakarta last month which left four civilians and four assailants dead, and were claimed by the Islamic State group.

 

A member of Indonesia’s elite anti-terror police, speaking anonymously, confirmed there had been a “raid on an arms training session” taking place on a mountain.

 

Local media reported that the group of around 30 were from Islamic extremist group Jamaah Ansharus Syariah and the training was on the slopes of Sumbing, in Central Java province. The arrests came after local villagers reported hearing gunfire, MetroTV reported, citing provincial police spokesman Liliek Darmanto.

 

(Snip)