Densus 88 Searches Home of Terrorist Suspect in Surabaya

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - Police antiterrorist squad Densus 88 conducted a search at the house of terrorist suspect Abu Fida in Sidotopo, Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday afternoon. East Java regional police command spokesman Senior Commissioner Awi Setiyono confirmed that Abu Fida had been arrested the day before (Wednesday evening) in Keputih, Surabaya. The police confiscated several items as evidence, including a laptop and a VCD. In 2009, Densus 88 had arrested Abu Fida in connection with the case of the late terrorist suspect Noordin Mohd. Terrorist convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is now serving a jail term in Nuskambangan maximum security prison in Central Java, used to visit the small mosque located close to Abu Fida's house. On August 8, Densus 88 had arrested two villagers of Ngawi District in East Java--SY alias GP (44) and KD--for their alleged involvement in a terrorist network. The police had confiscated evidence including guns, 21 rounds of ammunition, cellphones, and several jihad manuals from the two villagers. On August 9, Densus 88, meanwhile, had arrested the executive chief of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, Afif Abdul Majid alias Afif, in Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java. When asked about ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) network in East Java on Tuesday, Senior Commissioner Awi Setiyono replied that the police were currently monitoring seven radical groups. "We have so far arrested the Ngawi group, which has close relations with terrorist suspects in Poso, Central Sulawesi, who are wanted by the police and have now morphed into ISIS," he noted. (*) Reported by Edy M Ya'kub