Police confirm arrest of two terror suspects

Tony Hotland and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor

The National Police confirmed on Monday the arrest of two men by the force's antiterror squad in Leuwilang district, Bogor regency, last week.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said that two men had been arrested late on Friday by the police antiterror squad Detachment 88, or Den 88, led by Brig. Gen. Pranowo Dahlan.

Last week Pranowo denied the arrest when asked for confirmation by The Jakarta Post, saying that there had been no arrest in Bogor by his squad and that "if there had been any arrest, it must have been related to another case."

"If that's what Pranowo said, then let it be," said Paiman when quizzed about Pranowo's statement.

Paiman refused to disclose details, only saying that the two men had been involved in a training program likely related to terrorist activities in Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java.

Neighbors' descriptions were similar to those living near another group of suspects in Cianjur, West Java, where all four inhabitants of a rented home fled following an explosion last month. Locals said that the people living in the house claimed to be vendors or small-scale businesspeople, that the house always appeared to be closed and that the neighbors were familiar with only one or two inhabitants, who they said were well mannered.

Since the small blast in Cianjur, police have stepped up their hunt for suspected terrorists in West Java, in a bid to unravel the terrorist network believed to be responsible for several lethal bombings in the country, the latest on Sept. 9 in front of the Australian Embassy.

Paiman said, "The two men had also been a police target and had been under surveillance for quite some time. But I don't know where they are being detained now."

Two men were arrested following a raid in Leuwiliang district in the Bogor regency.

The two men, along with another man who was not at home when the arrest took place, lived in a two-story house rented out by Kamil, a local resident.

Kamil said the arrested men had rented the house for around 16 days before the arrest and had claimed to be sandal vendors.

"Actually, I don't know how many people lived there because only one man came to me about renting it. He said he was from Sukabumi and was a sandal vendor," said Kamil. He added he was instructed by police not to share details with the press, only saying that the man went by the initials R bin A; and that he was to tell inquisitive neighbors that the arrest was related to drugs and a robbery.

"There were several men who claimed to be from Jakarta who were looking around the house and asking about the tenants before the arrest. They said they had debts to collect from them, but I didn't believe them because they were so well built," said Kamil.

Neneng, a vegetable vendor who lives in front of the rented house, said only one man was often seen outside the house.

"He looked strong, with light skin and long hair. He was quite friendly, polite, and always came to my stall to buy food, such as noodles and egg, at around 9 p.m.," said Neneng.

A neighbor, Nani Yuningsih, said the curtains on the first floor of the house were always drawn. Frequent sounds at around midnight from the second floor suggested "they were working on something," she said.