Ekip
09 June 2016•Update: 13 June 2016
By Ainur Rohmah
TUBAN, Indonesia
Indonesian anti-terror personnel have arrested three suspected Daesh-influenced terrorists on suspicion of planning an attack during the Islamic fasting month of Eid al-Fitr.
National police spokesman Inspector Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said Thursday that the men were arrested in the city of Surabaya, East Java on Wednesday while planning an attack on a public space.
"They plan to take action during Ramadan," Amar said from police headquarters in Jakarta, according to kompas.com.
"They are inspired by ISIS's [Daesh's] message that disseminated through social media."
He added that YouTube messages by Daesh spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani had triggered radical thinking in the trio and led to them planning the attack.
Amar said that their plan is similar to a bomb blast in shopping center at Thamrin street, Jakarta, in January earlier this year.
"They targeted the officer who was involved in the security operation," he said.
Amar estimated that the attack had been in preparation since two of the men -- whose names were given as PHP, BRN, and FN --- were released from prison two years ago.
"PHP was jailed for his involvement in drug cases, while FN had been arrested for involvement in criminal cases," he said.
Wednesday's arrests saw anti-terror personnel discover three active high-explosive bombs, two long-barreled guns, a short-barreled firearm, liquid chemicals, a bayonet, and mobile phones.
Police have said they suspect more members of the group remain at large.
"We are continuing to investigate," Amar said.
