Jakarta blasts: All seven casualties identified, 12 suspects arrested
Four of the seven casualties from terror attacks on Indonesia on Thursday were identified as perpetrators, police chief Badrodin Haiti confirmed, adding 12 suspects were arrested in connection with the deadly incident.
JAKARTA: All seven casualties of the fatal bombings and shootings that hit the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday (Jan 14) have been identified, Head of Jakarta Police Medical and Health Division Dr Musyafak told reporters on Saturday (Jan 16).
Four of the casualties were declared suspected terrorists, including Sugito, 43, Dian Joni Kurniad, 26, Mohammad Ali, 40, and Afif, also known as Sunakin, whose age remains unknown.
Besides the four, police also named Ahmad Muhazan Saron, 26, as a suicide bomber who blew himself inside a Starbucks cafe on Jalan MH Thamrin, setting off a series of blasts and gunfights.
Ahmad's identification was made possible by an eyewitness, Aldi, who claimed the assailant had tried to grab him before detonating the bomb. Currently, Mr Aldi is receiving treatments for injuries at a hospital in Jakarta.
Two other casualties include 21-year-old Indonesian Rico Hermawan, and 70-year-old Canadian Amer Qvali Taher.
But later in a separate media briefing, Indonesia's national police chief Gen Badrodin Haiti excluded Sugito from the list of perpetrators which, he clarified, comprises only four men. Asked whether or not Sugito is a suspect, Mr Badrodin simply replied he had never mentioned it.
12 ARRESTED AFTER JAKARTA BLASTS
Following the terror attack, Indonesia has stepped up their counter-terrorism operations nationwide, as authorities intensify their search for radicals who could compromise national security.
"A team, I won't say from where, has been conducting a sweep," said Jakarta police spokesman Col Muhammad Iqbal.
"We cannot say how many people have been caught yet because it may interfere with our tragedy. But once we are done, we will inform the public."
Indonesia's national police chief Gen Badrodin Haiti.
(Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
Later on Friday, the Indonesian police chief revealed at least 12 suspects have been detained in connection with the latest series of attacks.
"We have caught as many as 12 suspects with links to the terror attacks from across Indonesia, including the provinces of Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah and Kalimantan Timur," Mr Badrodin said during a press conference at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, adding 9 firearms have also been confiscated.
The 12 detainees are held for interrogation by Indonesia's counter-terrorism squad Densus 88, which has a week to prove if they indeed had a connection with the attack. However, according to Mr Badrodin, one of the them had received an amount of funds from the Islamic State militant group.
Two suspects arrested before Jakarta blasts
The police chief also linked the 12 suspects to Bahrun Naim, an alleged IS-linked mastermind behind the deadly blasts.
"What is clear is these people are part of Bahrun Naim's group," Mr Badrodin said, claiming Bahrun had transferred a certain amount of funds to an unidentified person in Jakarta.
'TEST ATTACK' BEFORE BIGGER ONE
A placard reads "we are not afraid," a message from Indonesians to terrorists. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
Two days after the blasts, security officers in Indonesia pressed ahead with their investigations into the incident, while the capital Jakarta returned to normalcy.
However, authorities found themselves unable to determine whether the latest acts of terror was a "test attack" before a bigger one.
"We have documents for proof of other potential security threats, but I can't talk about them," Mr Badrodin said, adding police will do their best to strop terrorism.
"We cannot take action against alleged terrorists until we can prove their intention to commit a crime. However, this incident could be a strong incentive for us to do so."
