JAKARTA: Bahrun Naim (pic), also known as Singgih Tamtomo or Abu Rayan, who is suspected of orchestrating the terror attack in central Jakarta last Thursday, plays a crucial role in the Islamic State group, says Jakarta Police chief Insp Gen Tito Karnavian.
“Bahrun Naim’s role is crucial because he is the main link between the IS and elite groups and foot soldiers and cells in Indonesia,” said Tito as quoted by kompas.com.
Eight people, including four civilians, were left dead, while more than 20 others were injured following the suicide bombings and gun attacks on Thursday.
Bahrun is said to be the mastermind and funding source of several terrorist acts in Indonesia. It is reported that Bahrun is currently in Syria.
A brief recorded message believed to have been sent by Bahrun has been circulating among IS activists in Surakarta in central Java following the Jakarta attacks.
The police had not yet determined the authenticity of the voice on the recording.
Police arrested Bahrun for the illegal possession of ammunition ahead of the arrival of US President Barack Obama in Indonesia in November 2010.
Surakarta District Court later sentenced Bahrun to two-and-a-half years in prison.
In 2014, Bahrun is believed to have flown to Syria to join IS.
Thursday’s attack is being viewed as Bahrun’s effort to prove his influence in Indonesia so that he can be appointed as the IS leader in South-East Asia.
“Bahrun aims to establish Khatibah Nusantara (Islamic states) in Southeast Asia.
“He also wants to be the leader of the IS group in Central Asia and Bahrun is reported to have a tough rival from the southern Philippines for this position,” said Tito.
Bahrun has other connections with militant networks in Indonesia.
“A member of the Abu Musad group, Arif Hidayatullah, who was arrested in a boarding house in Bekasi and reportedly aimed to launch a terror attack in December, had direct communication with Bahrun Naim,” said Tito.
Apart from the Abu Musad group, another terror group identified only as the HD group was reported to have a connection with Bahrun.
Several members of the HD group were arrested in Bekasi some time ago.
Nine weapons were seized during the police raid.
Tito said during their investigations, the police revealed that the Sarinah attackers had travelled from Meruya, West Jakarta, prior to the attack.
They reportedly did not have direct contact with Bahrun, only via a variety of messengers. — The Jakarta Post / Asia News Network/Thestar
