Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command Chief, Inspector General Tito Karnavian, confirmed terrorists that launched attacks in Jakarta on Thursday were connected with the ISIS terror group.
"Our team is now chasing the network members, who are connected with the ISIS group in Raqqa," he said at a press conference held at the presidential office following a meeting led by the President on the issue.
He said the ISIS group had changed its strategy. They earlier used to operate only in Syria and Iraq, but after their leader, Abubakar Baghdadi, ordered them to operate outside Iraq and Syria, they had begun setting up ISIS chapters across the world, he explained.
"The chapters can be found in France, Europe, North Africa, Turkey, as well as Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and others," he said.
Especially in Southeast Asia, there is a figure who wishes to set up a "Khatibah Nusantara" and he wants to be the leader of the ISIS group in the region.
"Later, a rivalry for leadership developed. In the Philippines they have opened a chapter in South Philippines and now multiple persons are competing for the leadership. In connection with this, one of the ISIS figures launched these attacks. Meanwhile, we have identified the group and we are still chasing them," Tito said.
Tito said the first attack took place between 10:50 and 10:55 am at the Starbucks cafe in the form of a suicide bombing, followed by a fire fight with Metro Jaya Police Command members, but the situation was brought under control after 20 to 30 minutes.
The incident resulted in some people being wounded and others fleeing the scene.
"However, two suspected terrorists stood ready outside and then shot two people, including a Canadian citizen to death," he said.
Tito said at the same two suspected terrorists also launched a suicide bomb attack at a police post beside the Sarinah shopping center, where a police officer was on duty. The suspected terrorist died in the incident while the police officer was wounded.
He said a community member had also died in the incident after being hit by bomb shrapnel.
At the time, a team from the Metropolitan Police Command was passing by on their way to secure a demonstration at the National Monument nearby and "they stopped and after hearing the explosion got off and were attacked by gun shots and a grenade-like self-made bomb, which led to a firefight," Tito revealed.
Police members from the police precincts around Sarinah and on the streets around it helped, but four police officers from Central Jakarta police resort suffered gunshot wounds in their legs and stomach.
"The perpetrators were neutralized in about 15 minutes. Two of them had been shot and situation was brought under control within about 20 to 25 minutes," Tito said.
The police then combed the areas around Starbucks and Sarinah on MH Thamrin Boulevard.
"We summoned Brimob (Mobile Brigade) and Sabhara (riot police) from police resorts and police sectors to conduct a siege, backed up military personnel from the Jakarta Military Command, to clear the area of any other possible perpetrators.
He said the Skyline Building where the Starbucks cafe was located was searched and no suspect was found there and later a search was also carried out in the nearby Gedung Jaya, which was also cleared.
After that the police cleared the building of any possible bomb using a clearing device, he said.
During the operation, six bombs were found, five of them as big as a fist and a bigger one, which is as big as a biscuit can.
"So we discovered six bombs and from the dead perpetrator, we confiscated a self-made FN gun," Tito said.
Tito said after a clearing operation was carried out at the scene, the police reopened the street.
"The investigation at the police station and cafe is continuing and is expected to finish today. God willing by tomorrow, an investigation will be finished thoroughly," he stated.(WDY)
