Terrorists allegedly involve their relatives as a strategy to avoid being detected by the police. RMN was alleged exposed to radical views by his wife, who often makes contact with terror convicts.
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SAN/IAN/IGA/SHR/WSI/NDU
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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – RMN, 24, a young man who blew himself up at the Medan Police headquarters, North Sumatra, was allegedly exposed to radical views by his wife, DA. Radicalization from close relatives is often a strategy of terrorists to avoid detection by the police.
According to a police investigation, DA allegedly got exposed to radicalism, then spreads her radical views to her husband. DA, who is now detained by the National Police counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, allegedly planned a bomb attack for Bali.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said at the Police Mobile Brigade headquarters in Depok, West Java, on Thursday that Densus 88 and the cyber unit of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department found DA communicated actively on social media with a terrorist convict, I, who is now jailed at a female prison in Medan. DA also often made visits to the prison.
“On their social media network, they planned to launch a terror attack in Bali. We are investigating this, whether RMN, in committing this attack, has a structured or nonstructured network,” Dedi said.
On their social media network, they planned to launch a terror attack in Bali.
Recruitment model
Radicalism exposure and family involvement in terror activities, such as in the case of RMN and DA, is common. According to Kompas data, from May 2018 through November 2019, there were five cases of bomb attacks involving families, either husband and wife or children.
According to International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals Indonesia director Rakyan Adibrata, the radicalization process in a family is the most effective way to counter police monitoring, which uses technology.
“The communication between husband and wife cannot be wiretapped because it uses no technology. So, it is safer for the terrorists,” Rakyan said.
Related to the radicalization process of DA and RMN, the founder of Prasasti Perdamaian Foundation, Noor Huda Ismail, said the pattern of recruitment by ISIS networks in Indonesia, mainly the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), generally uses social media from prisons.
He said there were five stages of online recruitment by the terrorist group mostly conducted by JAD. The first stage is intense communication on social media. Second, the intensity of communication is increased through online meet-ups through instant messaging apps to give more information about the radical teaching. Third, the leader of the network will plan to have a face-to-face meeting with the individual that is considered to have been exposed to radicalism.
From our preliminary investigation, the perpetrator and his wife often attended an exclusive gathering with their colleagues.
After a meeting, on the fourth stage, they will perform paramilitary training, including the handover of explosives, as preparation for an act of terror. Finally, the act of terror is the peak of the recruitment process. The recruitment applies to men and women.
Surrounding
RMN’s cousin, Ilham, said after attending a religious gathering, RMN became introverted and silent.
“From our preliminary investigation, the perpetrator and his wife often attended an exclusive gathering with their colleagues. The motif and their relations with those people are still being investigated,” said North Sumatra Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Mardiaz Kusin Dwihananto.
Regarding the phenomenon, Nahdlatul Ulama secretary-general Helmy Faishal Zaini said radicalism and terrorism prevention started from the smallest cell, which is the family. Their surroundings can also prevent the seeds of radicalism and terrorism from growing.
“We ask people to stay calm and unprovoked. The people are also expected to be proactive reporting and preventing any signs of radicalism and terrorism,” he said.
Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu’ti said the approach to preventing and eradicating radicalism and terrorism must be carried out involving all sides. One of the approaches is the participatory approach, in which the government builds communication to promote public awareness.
“The approach does not have to be through religious sermons but also through arts, sports, economy or other hobbies. The surrounding community should also be asked to take a role in the prevention of radicalism and terrorism,” Mu’ti said.
Security check
Mardiaz explained the chronology on how RMN entered the Medan Police headquarters. Before blowing himself at the Medan Police headquarters, RMN underwent a security check. Then, he snuck along with several people who wanted to apply for some documents.
“We suspected when he was checked in the first time, the explosive was still on his motorcycle. Then, he brought it with him when he entered [the area] again,” Mardiaz said.
From the police crackdown at RMN’s house the police found sharp weapons, notes and communication devices. The police is still investigating the maker of RMN’s bomb.
After the suicide bombing at the Medan Police headquarters, the police arrested four terrorist suspects, three in Banten and one in Central Java. The three people in Banten are suspected of being affiliated to JAD Banten. The four people, based on a police investigation, allegedly have attended military training. Some of them have also gone to Syria to join ISIS.