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Search for Jakarta bombers: police say Isis-linked group likely culprit Jakarta: jihadi manuals and intelligence tip-offs pointed to rising terror threat
(35 minutes later)
Related: Jakarta attacks: Indonesian police regain control after seven killed in capital – liveRelated: Jakarta attacks: Indonesian police regain control after seven killed in capital – live
Many were waiting for an attack.Many were waiting for an attack.
Late last year, Indonesian counter-terrorism police – acting off FBI and Australian Federal Police intelligence – said they had foiled several bomb plots planned for Christmas and New Year celebrations.Late last year, Indonesian counter-terrorism police – acting off FBI and Australian Federal Police intelligence – said they had foiled several bomb plots planned for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“Jihad manuals” and bomb-making materials were seized, and six who were suspected members of Islamic State were arrested in west and central Java.“Jihad manuals” and bomb-making materials were seized, and six who were suspected members of Islamic State were arrested in west and central Java.
Police also said they had separately arrested four other men believed to be members of the al-Qaida-affiliated Jemaah Islamiyah, the group blamed for the nightclub bombing on the holiday island of Bali that killed 202 people in 2000.Police also said they had separately arrested four other men believed to be members of the al-Qaida-affiliated Jemaah Islamiyah, the group blamed for the nightclub bombing on the holiday island of Bali that killed 202 people in 2000.
Arrest documents showed they had been planning a suicide bombing in Jakarta, the country’s capital, on New Year’s Eve.Arrest documents showed they had been planning a suicide bombing in Jakarta, the country’s capital, on New Year’s Eve.
“It could be a single [attack], it could be massive, it could be a series. Certainly it depends on their preparation and readiness,” Indonesia’s national police chief, General Badrodin Haiti, warned at the time.“It could be a single [attack], it could be massive, it could be a series. Certainly it depends on their preparation and readiness,” Indonesia’s national police chief, General Badrodin Haiti, warned at the time.
To prevent other attacks, more than 150,000 security personnel were deployed to public places around the country during the end-of-year celebrations. But they were two weeks too early.To prevent other attacks, more than 150,000 security personnel were deployed to public places around the country during the end-of-year celebrations. But they were two weeks too early.
“The warning signs have been there for all to see. Indonesia has faced a rising threat of this kind of terrorist attack over the past year,” said Hugo Brennan, an Asia specialist at risk analysis company Verisk Maplecroft.“The warning signs have been there for all to see. Indonesia has faced a rising threat of this kind of terrorist attack over the past year,” said Hugo Brennan, an Asia specialist at risk analysis company Verisk Maplecroft.
“Although no one has yet claimed responsibility, Islamic State-affiliated groups have openly threatened to launch attacks,” he said. “The authorities have thwarted a number of similar plots in recent months.” “Islamic State-affiliated groups have openly threatened to launch attacks,” he said. “The authorities have thwarted a number of similar plots in recent months.”
Despite a mostly successful six-year government campaign to stamp out Indonesia’s decades-old extremist cells, domestic militancy has seen a resurgence inspired by Islamic State, which has recruited a few hundred Indonesians to fight in Middle Eastern conflict zones.Despite a mostly successful six-year government campaign to stamp out Indonesia’s decades-old extremist cells, domestic militancy has seen a resurgence inspired by Islamic State, which has recruited a few hundred Indonesians to fight in Middle Eastern conflict zones.
It is these fighters, returning battle-hardened and zealous, who authorities fear are planning attacks.It is these fighters, returning battle-hardened and zealous, who authorities fear are planning attacks.
While responsibility for the multiple bombs and ensuing gun battle that killed seven people in Jakarta on Thursday has not yet been claimed, police say it is likely to be an Islamic State-linked group. Jakarta police chief’s Tito Karnavian said an Isis-linked group was “definitely” behind Thursday’s attack, which saw multiple bombings and an ensuing gun battle. He said an Indonesian national, Bahrun Naim, who is believed to be in Syria, was “planning this for a while. He is behind this attack.”
“I don’t think the police were expecting this attack per se,” Yohanes Sulaiman, a lecturer and political analyst at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Indonesia, told the Guardian. “The police thought that they got everything under wraps.” The Isis-linked Aamaaq news agency also said on its Telegram channel that the group had carried out the attack targeting “foreigners and the security forces tasked with protecting them in the Indonesian capital”.
Yohanes Sulaiman, a lecturer and political analyst at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Indonesia, told the Guardian: “I don’t think the police were expecting this attack per se. The police thought that they had everything under wraps.”
He speculated that the “amateurish” attack might have been carried out by a smaller, unknown militant cell, possibly influenced but maybe not run by Islamic State.He speculated that the “amateurish” attack might have been carried out by a smaller, unknown militant cell, possibly influenced but maybe not run by Islamic State.
“Police know the old players,” he said, referring to Jemaah Islamiyah, “but new players are hard to get unless they screw up. For example, having their own homemade bomb explode in their hideout.”“Police know the old players,” he said, referring to Jemaah Islamiyah, “but new players are hard to get unless they screw up. For example, having their own homemade bomb explode in their hideout.”
With smaller, more nimble militant groups operating in the south-east Asian nation, it was becoming harder to stop all attacks.With smaller, more nimble militant groups operating in the south-east Asian nation, it was becoming harder to stop all attacks.
Related: What we know so far about the Jakarta attacksRelated: What we know so far about the Jakarta attacks
Sidney Jones, the director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict thinktank, wrote in the Lowy Interpreter in November that while Isis was still inchoate and poorly organised in Indonesia, it was working to build its networks across the archipelago.Sidney Jones, the director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict thinktank, wrote in the Lowy Interpreter in November that while Isis was still inchoate and poorly organised in Indonesia, it was working to build its networks across the archipelago.
“More and more Indonesians are getting killed in Syria. Earlier in the year, those deaths came in battles against the Kurds, but the most recent deaths have been airstrikes – and revenge is a powerful motive,” he wrote. “If Indonesian police have been the main victims of homegrown terrorism since 2010, we could now see a shift back toward westerners and soft targets.”“More and more Indonesians are getting killed in Syria. Earlier in the year, those deaths came in battles against the Kurds, but the most recent deaths have been airstrikes – and revenge is a powerful motive,” he wrote. “If Indonesian police have been the main victims of homegrown terrorism since 2010, we could now see a shift back toward westerners and soft targets.”
While the attacks on Thursday did target a police outpost, bombers also hit a Starbucks cafe near the United Nations building in an upscale neighbourhood filled with hotels and embassies.While the attacks on Thursday did target a police outpost, bombers also hit a Starbucks cafe near the United Nations building in an upscale neighbourhood filled with hotels and embassies.
Jones said Isis had been successful in recruiting and building a network of supporters in the suburbs of Jakarta. In all, it is estimated that 500 to 700 Indonesians have joined Islamic State.Jones said Isis had been successful in recruiting and building a network of supporters in the suburbs of Jakarta. In all, it is estimated that 500 to 700 Indonesians have joined Islamic State.
Clarke Jones, co-director of an anti-radicalisation centre at the Australian National University, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the identity and background of the attackers was unknown at this stage, but it was possible that in addition to jihadis returned from conflicts, the militants could be recently released from prison.Clarke Jones, co-director of an anti-radicalisation centre at the Australian National University, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the identity and background of the attackers was unknown at this stage, but it was possible that in addition to jihadis returned from conflicts, the militants could be recently released from prison.
“It is very hard to get an exact number on how many have returned that could potentially carry out acts of terrorism in Indonesia. But there has also been the recent release and pending release of militants from the prison systems, and that also poses a threat or ongoing threat for those who are released,” Jones said.“It is very hard to get an exact number on how many have returned that could potentially carry out acts of terrorism in Indonesia. But there has also been the recent release and pending release of militants from the prison systems, and that also poses a threat or ongoing threat for those who are released,” Jones said.
“We’ve seen attacks overseas, seen attacks in Turkey, Istanbul, in Pakistan, now in Jakarta. So, I hate to say these sorts of things, but there could be a push from Islamic State, due to their fallback in Syria and Iraq, to push out to further other countries around the world. Time will tell; it’s too early to say.”“We’ve seen attacks overseas, seen attacks in Turkey, Istanbul, in Pakistan, now in Jakarta. So, I hate to say these sorts of things, but there could be a push from Islamic State, due to their fallback in Syria and Iraq, to push out to further other countries around the world. Time will tell; it’s too early to say.”
Al-Qaida, now rivalled by Islamic State despite having similar goals, released three new messages from leader Ayman al-Zawahiri this week, one of which focused on south-east Asia, in particular Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.Al-Qaida, now rivalled by Islamic State despite having similar goals, released three new messages from leader Ayman al-Zawahiri this week, one of which focused on south-east Asia, in particular Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
In the 24-minute audio message – part of al-Qaida’s “Islamic Spring” series – Zawahiri said south-east Asia was “ripe” for a jihadi revival, using a metaphor of fruit growing on a tree.In the 24-minute audio message – part of al-Qaida’s “Islamic Spring” series – Zawahiri said south-east Asia was “ripe” for a jihadi revival, using a metaphor of fruit growing on a tree.