Indonesian police thwart twin-suicide bombing plot with student's arrest
Alleged young terrorist nabbed in East Java.
EAST JAVA: The Indonesian counterterrorism police force thwarted an alleged twin-suicide bombing plot with the arrest of a young student in East Java province on Wednesday (July 31), it has been reported.
Densus 88 arrested the student with the initials HOK, 19, for planning to bomb two places of worship in the Malang area. He was suspected to be a sympathiser of the Islamic State (IS) terror group.
"The perpetrator is a sympathiser of Daulah Islamiyah," a spokesman of the Indonesian National Police, Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, was quoted as saying on Thursday (Aug. 1), using the Arabic term for IS.
“...HOK was arrested at Jalan (Road) Langsep, Sisir Village, Malang’s Batu District.
"Based on the results of the investigation, the suspect planned to carry out suicide bombings using TATP (Triaceton Triperoxide) explosives."
Densus 88 spokesman Senior Commissioner Aswin Siregar said his force is still investigating possible links.
“Densus 88 is still investigating possible links with other ISIS supporter networks," said Aswin.
"Several people were asked for information, including the suspect’s parents or family.”
Densus 88 also secured chemicals and bomb-making tools.
The officials did not say whether HOK was a supporter of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah or JAD, a pro-IS terror network blamed for a spate of suicide bombings at churches and attacks at police stations in recent years.
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