Indonesia Arrests Four Uzbek Terror Suspects

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Police's anti-terror squad Densus 88 nabbed four Uzbekistan nationals for allegedly spreading terror propaganda on social media platforms.

The four Uzbeks are suspected of being involved in the international terror organization Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan said on Tuesday, April 4.

The suspects have been identified by their initials as BA alias JF (32), OMM alias IM (28), BKA (40), and MR (26).

They arrived in Indonesia separately from Istanbul, Turkey after transiting from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates and entered Indonesia via Malaysia, Ramadhan said.

Two of the Uzbeks left for Indonesia on Feb. 6. The remaining arrived in Indonesia three weeks later on Feb. 27.

Also read: Indonesia Arrests Three Terror Suspects in Greater Jakarta

Based on the preliminary investigation, BA, OMM, and MR are part of an international terror organization that is active in the Middle East region, especially Syria. While another suspect, BKA, has been providing them financial support as well as fake documents.

"Of the four suspects, three are active and are part of a terrorist organization and one is a supporter or provider of financial support and [involved in the] production of fake documents," Ramadhan said.

BA was reportedly the director of the organization in 2021 and left Uzbekistan for Turkey. He was thereafter sent to a militia camp in Syria.

While in Turkey, BA was allegedly involved in spreading radical propaganda. He was reportedly in charge of receiving and delivering members to the Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad group to realize his intention to carry out acts of terror.

Also read: Four Terror Suspects Arrested in Indonesia’s Batam

"Currently, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case against him in connection with the [spread of] propaganda of radical ideology," Ramadhan said.

Meanwhile, OMM, a supporter of the Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad reportedly went to Syria in 2020 on the orders of the group's leadership in Syria.

He allegedly completed subversive terrorism training at a militia camp and was actively involved in the group's activities.

MR was reportedly sent to Syria as the director of Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad in 2020 and completed his terrorism training in Amman in 2022.

Based on information from the Uzbekistan State Security Service, BKA is being monitored for providing assistance to his three colleagues.

"BKA is also responsible for producing fake documents and assisting in financial support with the aim of making their subversive aspirations successful," Ramadhan said.

Densus 88 secured evidence in the form of passports belonging to the four suspects, both domestic and international, one "MoneyGram" recipient sheet, one flight booking code sheet along with an iPad, several cell phones, and several "screenshots" of propaganda uploads.

A spokesperson for Densus 88 Senior Commissioner Aswin Siregar said that the four foreign nationals have not been detained.

"In the meantime, they have not been detained. We are still coordinating with related parties," he added.

Source: State News Antara