12 suspects arrested for bombings in Jakarta

National police chief Badrodin Haiti told reporters the attack likely indicates the involvement of a broader support apparatus, and implying that conspirators might still be at large.

An audacious attack by suicide bombers in the heart of Indonesia’s capital was funded by the Islamic State group, police said Friday, as they seized an IS flag from the home of one of the attackers and carried out raids across the country in which one suspected militant was killed.

Charliyan reportedly said that two of the five men involved in the attacks were previously convicted and imprisoned for terrorism offenses.

“We are investigating what exactly the money was used for”.

The police chief of Depok, where the arrests were made, told Metro TV that the men – which he described as a bomb-maker, a firearms expert and a preacher – were not linked to the Jakarta attack.

“We will not say how many people or what sort of evidence we have, as it will upset our strategy”. It was not immediately clear whether they had direct links with the attacks. Thirty people were hurt. The arrests on Friday came less than 24 hours after the shooting and bombing rampage, the first of such attack in the country since 2009.

Police said that the assault ended when two attackers died in a suicide bombing with the other three killed in gun battles.

Indonesia – which has been attacked by Islamist militants several times – had been on high terror alert amid IS threats to target Jakarta.

The ministry will hold calligraphy and lantern-fly competitions and other Chinese New Year-related events in some cities to attract more Chinese visitors, he said.

Authorities say dozens of Malaysians have travelled to Syria to fight for the radical IS group and warn they may seek to return home and import its ideology.

“The suspect admitted that he had planned a suicide attack in Malaysia and was awaiting instructions from a member of IS in Syria”, he said.

Khalid said three other people suspected of being Islamic State supporters were arrested last week at Kuala Lumpur airport after they returned from Turkey. The attackers were killed subsequently, either by their suicide vests or by police. Communications Ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu urged Indonesians to report militant websites. Their identification with the Islamic State group in distant Syria is an attempt to change those perceptions by linking to a network known for brutal, headline-grabbing attacks.

Another victim, 20-year-old Rico Hermawan from Indonesia, is understood to have been killed at the police post on Thamrin Road after being pulled aside for a traffic violation.

Iqbal added that one of those injured in the blast had escaped injury despite being grabbed by the bomber. “A little scared but honestly there’s probably more police out there right now so I think, if anything, I’m probably safer now, just got to be careful, stay low, avoid tourist areas, I think I’ll be ok”.