Jakarta blasts: 13 suspects detained by police
Indonesian police have nabbed one more suspect in connection with last week's militant attacks in Jakarta, raising the number of suspected terrorists to 13 on Monday (Jan 18).
JAKARTA: Indonesian police have detained one more suspect after a series of deadly bomb blasts and gunfire hit the capital of Jakarta last week, national police spokesperson Anton Charliyan told reporters on Monday (Jan 18).
The latest arrest was made on Sunday in Cipacing, West Java, raising the total number of terror suspects to 13. However, only eight of them are believed to have ties to the latest terror attack on the Southeast Asian nation with the largest Muslim population in the world.
The eight suspects, whose names remain confidential, comprise three people from Cirebon, two from Indramayu, one from Balikpapan and two from Tegal. According to the police spokesman, they are all male.
The detainees are being held for seven days by Indonesia's counter-terrorism squad Densus 88, as authorities seek to determine if there is any link between them and the fatal incident in central Jakarta on Jan 14.
The death toll from the attack is now eight, including four civilians and four perpetrators - Dian Joni Kurniad, Mohammad Ali, Ahmad Muhazan Bin Saron, and Affix, who was also known as Sunakin.
"We're trying to find out about the duty of each terrorist. We still can't mention it one by one. However, these eight men are suspected of having been recruited by Bahrun Naim," said Mr Anton.
Bahrun Naim, the suspected mastermind behind last week's bomb blasts, is an alleged member of the Islamic State (IS) militant group. Police believe he is residing in the IS-held city of Raqqa in Syria.
MAN KILLED WHILE TAKING SELFIES
On Monday, police also recounted the reactions of bystanders when the first explosion hit a Starbucks cafe on Jalan MH Thamrin in Jakarta's commercial district.
"When the first bomb went off, people quickly gathered around to find out what was going on," said Untung Sangaji, a police officer who was having coffee nearby when a suicide bomber blew himself up. "I yelled 'call ambulance' but instead of helping police, they preferred taking photos and selfies."
One civilian lost his life from doing just that, the officer added.
Untung Sangaji, a police officer who was at the scene during the Jakarta attacks. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
As the events continued to unfold, Mr Untung spotted one of the perpetrators and shot at his feet to stop him from running away.
"I emptied nearly three magazines. Suddenly, he dropped his bag and another bomb exploded. There were nails inside. So when it went off, those nails just went everywhere."
Hours had gone by before the situation became under control. Police officers managed to seize several undetonated explosive devices, with the biggest measuring 40cm in length and 15cm in diameter. Its impact, Mr Untung said, would be as powerful as that of 10 grenades combined.
"BODY IN POSO ISN'T SANTOSO'S"
Besides the new arrest, police also confirmed that the corpse seen in a viral photo does not belong to the country's most-wanted terror suspect Santoso.
"We confirm that the body in Poso isn't Santoso's," Mr Anton said, citing autopsy reports. His comment came amid speculation that the body of a militant killed in Poso, central Sulawesi, after Jakarta's bomb blasts belongs to Santoso.
"His initial is R.D. but we need a confirmation on that after a postmortem examination is complete," the spokesman clarified, adding that R.D. was part of a radical group in Central Java.
