Police Investigate Terror Networks behind Attack at Police Headquarters

The police have learned about the ideology of the Islamic State (IS) embraced by the attacker of the National Police headquarters, yet they will still investigate the terror networks behind the assailant.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Police stand guard with long rifles at National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Wednesday (31/3/2021). The National Police Headquarters has tightened post-attack guarding of suspected terrorists who died after a gun battle.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS –National Police are investigating the networks supporting suspected terrorist Zakiah Aini, who attacked police officers on Wednesday (31/3/2021) at the National Police headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo, Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo has ordered police officers who safeguard the headquarters and work on the grounds to increase vigilance and security measures.

During a press conference on Wednesday (31/3) evening, Listyo said the attacker of the police headquarters had been identified as a female by the initials ZA. The attacker was 25 years old and a former university student. “The attacker was a “lone wolf” who championed the ideology of the IS, as evident in her social media posts,” explained Listyo.

Also read: Weak Ideological Resilience Acts as Trigger

“Hence, I’ve already ordered the chief of the [National Police’s counterterrorism squad] Densus 88 to thoroughly investigate the possibility of terror networks behind this attack,” said Listyo.

The female attacker shot patrolling police officers for six times. Two shots were directed to police officers inside a security post, two were directed to police outside the post and the remaining two were directed to police officers nearby. “Responding to this, the police countered with a decisive and proportionate action,” said Listyo.

The attacker was a “lone wolf” who championed the ideology of the IS, as evident in her social media posts.

The attacker entered the complex through the back gate at 16.30. ZA then asked for the location of a post office to the officer in the security post. After leaving the post, the attacker shortly returned and started shooting the security post.

During the shootout, the attacker carried a yellow folder, which stored envelopes scribbled with words. She also recently made an Instagram account and uploaded posts, one of which was in support of IS. Moreover, she also made a post about jihad.

Also read: Operating in ‘Two Legs’

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo

The wills of the attacker were later found when the police raided her house in East Jakarta. Prior to the attack, ZA also bade goodbye in her family’s group chat on a messaging app.

Following the attack, the police chief has ordered the police authorities to continue providing public services. He also instructed his subordinates to increase their vigilance and security measures, both at the National Police headquarters and on the ground.

Also read: Terror Networks Target Young Families

Regarding the preceding bomb attack near a Catholic cathedral in Makassar, Listyo reported that the police had apprehended 13 suspects in Makassar, one of whom was strongly suspected of being the bomb maker. The police have also arrested five people in Jakarta and Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, each. In total, 23 suspected terrorists have been apprehended in Makassar, Jakarta and Bima.

Weakness

Terrorism expert from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, said on Wednesday that the shootout at the police headquarters highlighted the weakness of the government’s security measures. Reflecting on the current circumstance, where a terror attack recently rocked Makassar followed by the mass arrest of suspected terrorists, the police should have improved their security system, especially since the police are known as one of terror networks’ prime targets.

“Indeed, the police’s security system is not as tight as the military’s. This is because police headquarters also function as a public service area. Still, the shootout shows that the police’s security system is weak when it comes to protecting their assets from terror acts. There is an element of negligence as well from the personnel on duty. Hence, the attacker could easily break through the security of the National Police headquarters,” said Fahmi.

Also read: Police Asked to Thoroughly Investigate Terrorist Network

Fahmi added if it was true that the attacker had brought a firearm, the firearm should have been detected by metal detectors at the checkpoint. However, this did not seem to be the case in yesterday’s incident.

Kompas

Screenshot of the terrorists who attacked National Police Headquarters, Wednesday (31/3/2021).

Meanwhile, terrorism expert of the University of Indonesia, Ridwan Habib, said the National Police must completely reevaluate their security procedures in protecting vital objects. There must not be security loopholes which allow trespassers to easily break into the country’s vital objects, particularly as the situation is currently escalating. Not only police assets, security measures for other vital objects must be upgraded as well.

“There must not be any security gaps that are easily breached, given the current escalation of security concerns,” said Ridwan.

Fahmi and Ridwan suspected the attacker of the National Police headquarters as a member of terror group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) based on the characteristics of the attack: the attacker was a female using a homemade weapon to target the police force. Security threats posed by this terror group must be anticipated by the police.

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From Surabaya, East Java, it was reported that Densus 88 had arrested two suspected terrorists in Tulungagung and Nganjuk on Tuesday (30/3). The two suspects were allegedly involved in the bomb attack in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday (28/3).

Densus 88 arrested one of the terrorist suspects, identified by his initials NMR, in Tulungagung on Tuesday just before 15.00. From the suspect, the counterterrorism squad seized homemade weapons. Several hours later, the police arrested another suspect, identified as LAM, in Nganjuk with evidence of a number of books. The two suspected terrorists are believed to be part of the JAD terror network.

There must not be any security gaps that are easily breached, given the current escalation of security concerns.

“There are indications that the two suspects would carry out terror attacks,” said East Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Gatot Repli Handoko on Wednesday.

In anticipation of similar attacks, the police have intensified security measures in Jakarta, Banten, Sidoarjo (East Java) and Pontianak (West Kalimantan). Densus 88 has also searched homes of suspected terrorists in Cangkuang, Bandung regency, West Java, on Wednesday. The search is related to the arrests of several suspected terrorists in Jakarta on Wednesday. (NAD/JOG/BRO/NIK/

ESA / OKA / RTG )

This article was translated by Astria Z. Nabila