Indonesian IS terrorist planned to attack police, military headquarters, says official

The suspect also allegedly planned to attack a detention centre to free terror inmates there.

Firearms, components and accessories were among the items seized from the IS suspect’s home in North Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Aug 14, 2023. (Densus 88 pic)

JAKARTA: A suspected pro-Daesh terrorist arrested in the Indonesian province of West Java on Monday had planned to attack police and military headquarters, having allegedly undergone shooting training and possessed more than a dozen firearms and thousands of bullets, said a counterterrorism official. 

Dananjaya Erbening, a 28-year-old employee of Indonesian Railways, was arrested by counterterrorism police force Densus 88 at his home in North Bekasi subdistrict. 

Densus 88 spokesman Aswin Siregar was reported as saying after the arrest that Dananjaya was an IS supporter who actively spread the terror group's propaganda on social media and called for people to join violent jihad. 

"Dananjaya Erbening began to be exposed to understandings of terror in 2010 and became an al- Qaeda sympathiser. Later he joined the William Maksum group (which was implicated) in a firearm possession case," said Aswin in a press release, referring to a terror network in Indonesia. 

"In 2014 when there were many ISIS members in Indonesia pledging allegiance to the ISIS emir, Abu Bakar al Baghdadi, by reading bay'at texts on social media. Dananjaya Erbening renewed his bay'at on Facebook on June 1, 2023 in Arabic and Indonesian to the (current) leader of the Islamic State namely Abu Hafs Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi."

In 2018, the suspect was allegedly inspired on television by a bloody standoff between terror inmates and security forces at a police Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) detention centre in Depok, West Java, to commit terror and gather information on firearms acquisition. 

“Dananjaya Erbening has conducted shooting practice on Mount Geulis as much as six hours once every two months using a Baikal Makarov weapon," said Aswin. 

Dananjaya, according to Aswin, allegedly aimed to attack the Brimob Kelapa Dua detention centre, Brimob headquarters in West Java as well as military headquarters.

Flags often used by ISIS and books on salafism and apostasy were also among the items seized from the terror suspect’s home. (Densus 88 pic)

"The suspect was inspired by the 2018 Brimob riot and films of battles to release terrorists in Syria to free terror inmates at (a) Brimob (detention centre) by fighting with firearms and seizing weapons at Brimob Kelapa Dua headquarters and also to distribute the seized weapons to the inmates to fight the police," said Aswin. 

Densus 88 seized 18 firearms from the suspect's home - namely 11 short-barrelled weapons, five long-barrelled weapons including an Uzi and an SS gun as well two pen guns and over 2,000 bullets of various calibres, according to a list provided by Aswin to this writer. 

Firearm components and accessories, ISIS flags and books on salafism and apostasy were also among the items seized from Dananjaya's home, the list shows further. 

Densus 88 also made searches and seizures at another home in the Bandung regency and Indonesian Railways' staff mess in Jakarta city.

On whether there were accomplices of the suspect, Aswin said this writer that Densus 88 only arrested Dananjaya so far and that the case is under further investigation.

The official also said the case showed how the Internet and social media became platforms for propagating dangerous terror beliefs and that ISIS supporters remained active in Indonesia. 

“Firearms possession among IS supporters in Indonesia is a serious threat that needs attention. This case shows that preparations and training for terror attacks can happen quietly. This indicates our important role to report the sale and distribution of illegal weapons," Aswin told this writer. 

"This case also reminds us of the importance of vigilance over online activities. Social media is not only a communication tool, but also a platform to propagate extreme ideology. The case also shows the importance of good education as well as the correct understanding of religion."

Let's maintain order and peace in the country together by becoming a society that is aware of the potential dangers of terrorism and always ready to report suspicious activity to the authorities, added Aswin.