Police Arrest Terrorist Suspects in East Java

Jakarta (Antara) - Police have arrested two terrorist suspects believed to be members of the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) network led by Santoso and Daeng Koro in East Java. "Arrests have been made on two terrorist suspects belonging to the Santoso group who have so far been in the wanted list in East Java. The two are known by their initials K and G," national police chief General Sutarman said here on Friday. He noted that the police had arrested G (Guntur Pamungkas) in Gedung Perasan village, Widodaren subdistrict, Ngawi. He was allegedly involved in funding terrorist actions by MIT groups led by Santoso and Daeng Koro and a robbery plan in Bali to be carried out by suspect Hilman (MD) in 2012. G was also involved in a case of gun possession--a pistol--he had bought from terrorist suspect AT who had earlier been arrested by the police. Sutarman said K (Kardi), meanwhile, was arrested at 12.45 hours in Gendingan village, Widodaren, Ngawi. "Kardi is a terrorist suspect belonging to the Guntur and Arief Tuban groups and is involved in gun purchases and funding of terrorist actions for the MIT group," he pointed out. From the two suspects, the police have confiscated a Barreta pistol, two magazines, and 21 rounds of ammunition, as well as an ISIS flag from K's house. Sutarman added that the two suspects were sympathizers of ISIS, but they had not sworn allegiance. The two are still under investigation. (*) Reported by Yuni Arisandy