Eight Suspected Terrorists Arrested in Poso, Criminologist Highlights Digital Space as 'Nest' for Propaganda
Criminologist Tegar Bimantoro has highlighted the arrest of eight suspected terrorists by the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 Antiteror of the Indonesian National Police in the Poso and Parigi Moutong areas of Central Sulawesi.
He views the firm action by Densus 88 as part of the long history of terrorism in the region, which has evolved from horizontal conflicts into organised terror acts.
The mountainous areas of Central Sulawesi were previously known as a base for training and guerrilla operations by the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) group. Although the group’s strength had weakened following a series of security operations, the latest arrests indicate that radicalism cells are still attempting regeneration.
Tegar assesses that the re-emergence of terrorist activities in Poso is influenced by dominant external factors.
“This phenomenon can be analysed through Edwin Sutherland’s Differential Association theory, which states that criminal behaviour is not innate but learned through social interactions,” Tegar said in a written statement on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
He explained that the arrest of the eight suspects indicates that the ‘communication circle’ of radical groups remains active. According to him, terror groups have exclusive communication networks that are now increasingly developing through digital platforms.
“Through online conversations, the process of transferring ideology and strengthening terrorist motivations continues. The influence of the environment, whether through primordial ties or group networks, often proves stronger than state interventions,” he said.
Tegar also emphasised that law enforcement through arrests alone is insufficient to eradicate terrorism comprehensively. A more comprehensive and sustainable approach is needed to break the chain of radical ideology dissemination.
“The state must be present with adaptive prevention strategies, particularly in monitoring the digital space, which has now become the main medium for propaganda and recruitment. Without effective oversight in the private digital space, network cells will continue to find gaps to regrow,” he concluded.
For information, the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 Antiteror team of the Indonesian National Police has once again uncovered terrorist network activities in Indonesia. This time, eight suspected members of the Jamaah Anshoru Daulah (JAD) network affiliated with the global ISIS terror group were arrested in Central Sulawesi.
The arrests were carried out in an early morning operation on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, in two different areas, namely Poso Regency and Parigi Moutong Regency.