Two Alleged Terrorists Arrested After Firefight

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Police have arrested two suspects believed to be couriers of a terrorist network led by Santoso following a firefight in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.

"We have arrested two couriers suspected to be members of the Santoso network in Gayatri hamlet, Maranggan, Poso Pesisir Utara, which is believed to be their training ground," National Police spokesman Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar said when asked about the incident at the Police Headquarters.

Boy said the two suspects were known as Rodik and Aji alias Syuaib. "These suspects are also known of having assisted suicide bomber Zainul in his action," he added.

Zainul Arifin (34) was the suicide bomber at Poso resort police station in Central Sulawesi on June 3, 2013.

Boy said he also suspected that the two were related with a group that had been involved in a fire fight with the police that led to the death of First Agent Putu Satria on February 5, 2014.

He said from the two suspects the police confiscated a pipe bomb and 19 rounds of 19mm caliber bullets.

The two were taken to the Central Sulawesi police station. Boy said police had been involved in a firefight with armed men believed to be members of the Santoso group from Friday to Monday.

"Until today police anti-terror unit Densus 88 and Central Sulawesi police personnel especially from the Mobile Brigade are still chasing them," he said.

He said the number of the armed men involved was 10 to 15. Central Sulawesi police command spokesman Adjunct Senior Commissioner Soemarno had said that two Mobile Brigade members had been hit during the fire fight.

Second agent Syamsu Alam was hit in the hip while Second Brigadier Baharuddin on his thigh. They are now treated at a local police hospital, he said.

Soemarno said he did not know yet if any of the suspects had been caught. "The firefight is still continuing," he said. (*/DWA)