Police Take Aim at Jailbreak Terror Suspect in Sulawesi Manhunt
Jakarta. The National Police have revealed the identity of convicted terrorist and explosives expert they say is a key target in a terrorist network led by Indonesia’s most wanted radical Santoso.
“Besides Santoso, another [main] target is Basri. He’s the one we are also chasing after,” National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In April 2013, Basri, who is also known as Ayas or Bagong, escaped Ampana Penitentiary in Poso district, Central Sulawesi.
He was sentenced in December 2007 to 19 years in prison for his role in the 2005 beheadings of three Catholic schoolgirls in Poso, which was previously the scene of deadly sectarian conflict that left about 1,000 dead.
The police’s counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, have until recently been focusing their manhunt on Santoso and his number two, Daeng Koro — a police deserter who was killed in a shootout in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, in April.
Santoso, the leader of terror network the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT), is Indonesia’s most-wanted fugitive.
Badrodin said the police would continue hunting the Santoso and Basri, who are believed to be in the jungles of Poso.
“The way [to catch them] is by arresting their aides first. If they are out of helpers in the jungles, who else will support their lives?” said Badrodin.
Densus 88 on Monday announced they had arrested seven people who allegedly helped the terror fugitives at different locations around Poso over the weekend. Two of alleged terrorists were shot dead in the raid and two officers from the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) were injured.
The post Police Take Aim at Jailbreak Terror Suspect in Sulawesi Manhunt appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.