Indonesia arrested two ISIS men travelling to Malaysia? 'No, they're migrant workers.'
They duo are not pro-ISIS Jamaah Ansharut Daulah members, according to Riau Islands province police.
RIAU: Police in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province denied reports that the nation’s counterterrorism force had arrested two pro-Daesh terrorists on their way to Malaysia on Monday.
SEA Militancy previously reported, citing local-language news, on two men, allegedly members of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah or JAD terror network, supposedly arrested by antiterror force Densus 88 at Harbour Bay International Port in Batam city.
The two people were residents of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, and were reported to have been leaving for Malaysia when they were arrested.
However, the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Harry Goldenhardt, denied that Densus 88 had made the arrests.
He revealed that the two people had been on the Directorate-General of Immigration’s ban list because they were suspected of not complying with applicable procedures.
"Allegedly, they wanted to leave as PMI but did not comply with procedures. Because their immigration was observed to be suspicious. Immigration arrested them. I just coordinated with police intelligence that no terrorist suspects were arrested," Batam News quoted Harry as saying Tuesday.
Harry was referring to the initials for “Pekerja Migrasi Indonesia” or Indonesian Migrant Workers.
A Batam Immigration official, Subki Miuldi, reportedly confirmed that his side prevented the exit of the two men.
However, he declined to provide further information about the duo’s status - whether they were suspected terrorists - as Densus 88 would handle such a matter.
"Don't know if it's [suspected terrorists]. We only prevent people from (leaving the country), we coordinate - whether it's suspected terrorists, that’s Densus (matter)," Subki told Batam News.
JAD was linked to the 2018 Surabaya bombings, 2021 Makassar bombings and 2019 suicide bombings at a church in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
The terror network was also responsible for the 2019 stabbing of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto, in Java’s Banten province.
Ed.: After pandemic border closures were lifted, did transborder militant movement pick up again in Southeast Asia? Any thoughts, tips? Like and leave your comments below or email your tips to the editor,
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