Three arrested in connection with Jakarta attack

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a bomb and gun attack Thursday in Indonesia’s capital.

Jakarta Police Chief Tito Karnavian revealed the attackers were linked to IS in Raqqa, Syria, in particular an Indonesian named Bahrun Naim.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack was carried out by its “soldiers” against citizens from the “crusader coalition”, referring to the US-led alliance combating the jihadists.

Dwiyono – who, like many Indonesians, uses only one name – called the men suspected militants and said they were being questioned over possible links to the attacks.

He says the operations were funded through Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian who was arrested in 2011 and spent one year in jail for illegal possession of weapons before going to Syria to fight alongside the group.

Some of the 20 people wounded have begun to leave hospital, and the scene of the attack had largely returned to normal on Friday, except for screens around the police post and Starbucks. “This is an indication that he has been learning from the Paris attacks and has studied the strategy”.

Police then combed the building housing the Starbucks and another nearby building where they discovered six homemade bombs – five small ones and a big one.

Islamic State later said it was behind the attacks by suicide bombers and gunmen, the first time the militant group has targeted the world’s most populous Muslim nation, said Reuters.

A jihadist’s rucksack was found next to two dead bodies after a three-hour gunbattle in the Indonesian capital.

It’s understood they were detained in connection with a separate incident and the authorities are now trying to establish a suspected link with the attacks.

“At the moment the situation is under control”, Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said.

Security authorities have arrested several extremists over the last four weeks, and the guns carried by the militants were rudimentary, police said.

The remains inside the bag reveal a “terrorist tool kit” which include a detonator, handgun, grenades, a bomb, hunting knife and ammunition.

Taufik Andri, a terrorist analyst, said although the attack ended swiftly and badly for the attackers, their aim was to show their presence and ability.

But when Thursday’s assault in central Jakarta was over, the death toll was far lower. I have ordered the police to capture those responsible for the attacks.

But Associate Professor Fealy said the attack was also evidence of the growing threat posed by IS.

“Since 5 pm, we chose to put into effect the siaga 1 status for security all over Indonesia”, said National Police Spokesman Inspector General Anton Charliyan, as quoted by Tempo yesterday.

Tri Seranto, a bank security guard, told The Associated Press he saw at least five attackers, including three who triggered explosions at the Starbucks.

Preventing such attacks requires better intelligence and needs more effective sharing of information among the people who need to know it, our correspondent adds.