This was published 8 years ago
AFP helps stem threat of terrorism in Indonesia as nine arrested following raids
By Jewel Topsfield, Amilia Rosa and Karuni Rompies
The Australian Federal Police and the FBI have assisted Indonesia's efforts to quell terror-related violence before it occurs.
Nine suspected terrorists, including some allegedly planning an attack in December, were arrested in raids across five Javan cities in Indonesia following information provided by the AFP and FBI.
Indonesian police officers from Special Detachment 88 anti-terror unit raid a hideout used by suspected militants' in Mojokerto, East Java.Credit: AP
"The AFP and FBI have been working together with the Indonesian National Police, sharing threat reporting," an AFP spokesperson said.
"This reporting has been used by the Indonesian National Police to shape their investigations."
Increase in anti-western chatter: Sidney Jones.Credit: Chris Lane
Indonesian national police spokesman Anton Charliyan told Fairfax Media the nine people arrested allegedly belonged to two terrorist networks including Abu Jundi which is linked to ISIS.
He said two suspects arrested in East Java, who belonged to an old terrorist network, had been on their wanted list for sometime over a bomb making factory in Klaten.
"The terrorists planned an attack this December, but we are still investigating what type of attack," he said.
"Potential targets were officials, buildings and other terrorist networks. They were planning to attack one another."
Sukoharjo police chief Andi Rivai said suspected terrorist AJ, who is known as AK, was arrested Saturday morning in Central Java while riding his bike.
The man's name is understood to be Abdul Karim aka Abu Jundi.
Mr Rivai said police assisted forces from the counter terrorism unit Detachment 88 to raid his house.
"Evidence found in his house were books on Jihad, electronic components, fertiliser, nails, ball bearings and a map of Jakarta and Greater Jakarta," he said.
"These people usually add nails, ball bearings etc to explosive materials to cause greater damage to people and the surroundings," he said.
Indonesian police beefed up security outside several embassies – including the Australian Embassy – shopping malls and places of worship after the Paris attacks.
Jakarta-based terrorism analyst Sidney Jones told a forum last month there could be a shift towards attacking foreigners in Indonesia because of the publicity the Paris attacks received and the increased emphasis of IS on external attacks.
Ms Jones also said the increasing numbers of Indonesians getting killed in Coalition airstrikes raised the possibility of revenge attacks in Indonesia.
In a presentation to ambassadors at Jakarta Police headquarters on November 18, Ms Jones also warned that anti-western propaganda seemed to be increasing, with lots of tweets and discussions on closed chats on cloud-based instant messaging service Telegram.