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By APD writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Sept. 18 (APD) — Indonesian police arrested a man in West Java province’s city of Cirebon airport premises hours before President Joko Widodo’s arrival in the city on Monday, found weapons kept by the man and molotov cocktails already placed by him in several spots around the airport.
General Crime Director at West Java provincial police headquarters Umar Surya Fana said that the man, identified as IM, was arrested in Cakrabuana airport at around 2.30 p.m.
The 31 man was arrested along with his military dagger, airsoft gun and pepper spray, stashed in his backpack, Umar said.
Shortly after that, police found five molotov cocktails placed in several locations inside and outside the small airport where President Widodo was scheduled to arrive in the evening to attend the closing of a festival highlighting the nation’s old kingdoms in the city.
The president was scheduled to spend 3 hours during the event which would be attended by royal families of several old kingdoms which ruled the nation in ancient period.
“He is a lone wolf who used to target anyone, including the police. In this case now, it was possible that the target was the president himself,” Umar said in the afternoon, adding that prior to the arrest IM had placed the molotov cocktails around the airport.
West Java Police Chief Agung Budi Maryoto said that IM was arrested by provincial police’s Special Response Team (SRT) when he walked around near the VVIP perimeters set by police in the airport related to the planned arrival of President Widodo.
“Police suspected him as he carried a backpack along that restricted area. After being searched police found the dagger, airsoft gun and pepper spray inside. Further interrogation against him is still underway at present. He was originated from a regency in West Java,” Agung said.
Police have identified IM as a member of Jamaah Anshaarut Daulah (JAD), a radical group which had stated its allegiance to global terrorist organization of Islamic State (IS).
Police have arrested and killed several members of the radical group over several attack attempts in the past several months in Jakarta and West Java province.
The group often attacked police on duty and police stations, regarded police as their main enemy in their efforts to establish an Islamic State in Indonesia.
Many attack attempts carried out by the organization were conducted by small number of people with their own resources.
Attempt of attacks targeting the president by the radical group had previously been foiled by police with many of them were prepared in West Java province.
Indonesian police previously dismantled a JAD-afiliated terrorist ring who assembled chemical explosives in West Java capital of Bandung mid last month. They planned to detonate the chemical bombs in Jakarta later in the month. Among the targeted objects was presidential palace.
In December last year, police also failed a plan to attack the presidential palace, using a suicide bomber woman. The ring, which was also affiliated with JAD, crafted a devastating bombs contained in pressure cooker, claimed of capable to flatten everything within 300 meters from explosion center.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
