Blitar, E Java (Antaranews Jatim) - The Police's anti-terrorism squad Densus 88 arrested two other people on Wednesday night after earlier taking into custody three for alleged connection with a terrorist network in Blitar, East Java.
"Last night, in Blitar District, five people were arrested for their alleged connection with a terror network and were taken to Surabaya for interrogation and investigation by a team of investigators from the Indonesia Police Headquarters," Blitar Resort Police Chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Anissullah M. Ridha stated here on Thursday.
He noted that Densus had arrested them from three different locations on Wednesday night: three in Talun Sub-district and one each in Gandusari and Wingi.
Those arrested in Talun were identified by their initials as NH, SZ, and An, while NH is also known as a general physician practicing medicine at a rented house.
Densus 88 had searched their houses and confiscated a gun, with eight bullets, and several books on "jihad," or the holy war, and radicalism as evidence in Talun, but they found no items as evidence in the other houses.
Ridha remarked that the police had monitored them and their activities since long but had waited for evidence to act upon.
"It was a lengthy observation. Densus has followed them frequently, so they do not lack information. However, items of evidence are needed before action can be taken," he explained.
He claimed to not have concrete information on whether they were members of the network of Syamsul Arifin, 37, from Jatinom Village, Blitar. Arifin, also known as Abu Umar, is the chief of the East Java chapter of Ansharut Daulah and was arrested early in May in connection with the bombings in Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java.
"What is clear is this involves a network, but we are yet to ascertain who is the chief and the recruiter, as investigation is still underway. Based on early information, it is a JAD network," he pointed out.
Until now, the police are still guarding the house of the alleged terrorist in Bajang, Talun. (*)
