Indonesian police detain four Uzbeks suspected of terrorism

They are suspected of being involved in the international terror organization Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad, Antara writes with reference to a spokesperson for the Indonesian Police Ahmad Ramadhan.

The suspects arrived in Indonesia separately from Istanbul after transiting from Abu Dhabi and entered Indonesia via Malaysia, Ramadhan said.

Two of the Uzbeks left for Indonesia on February 6, 2023. The remaining arrived in Indonesia three weeks later on February 27.

Based on the preliminary investigation, three of them are part of an international terror organization that is active in the Middle East region, especially Syria. While another suspect has been providing them with financial support as well as fake documents.

"Of the four suspects, three are active and are part of a terrorist organization and one is a supporter or provider of financial support and (involved in the) production of fake documents," Ramadhan informed.

One of them was reportedly the director of the organization in 2021 and left Uzbekistan for Turkiye. He was thereafter sent to a militia camp in Syria.

While in Turkey, he was allegedly involved in spreading radical propaganda. He was reportedly in charge of receiving and delivering members to the Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad group to realize his intention to carry out acts of terror.

"Currently, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case against him in connection with the (spread of) propaganda of radical ideology," Ramadhan said.

Meanwhile, another suspect reportedly went to Syria in 2020 on the orders of the group's leadership.

He allegedly completed subversive terrorism training at a militia camp and was actively involved in the group's activities.

Densus 88 secured evidence in the form of passports belonging to the four suspects, both domestic and international, one "MoneyGram" recipient sheet, one flight booking code sheet along with an iPad, several cell phones, and several screenshots of propaganda uploads.

A spokesperson for Densus 88 Senior Commissioner Po. Aswin Siregar said that the four foreign nationals have not been detained.

"In the meantime, they have not been detained. We are still coordinating with related parties," he added.