Terrorism in Indonesia | |||||||
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Part of the War on terror | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
![]() | Islamist groups:
Separatists:
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Former:
| Islamists: Komando Jihad
Mujahidin Tanah Runtuh
Indonesian Mujahedeen Council
Mujahidin Indonesia Barat
Abu Uswah network
Jamaah Ansharusy Syariah
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah Mujahedeen KOMPAK
Separatists:
(until 2005)
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Strength | |||||||
Indonesia armed force and police in Operation Madago Raya: 3,000 In Insurgency in Aceh: 35,000–50,000 (2005) In Din Minimi warband hunt operation: unknown In Papua conflict: 30,000 | Terrorist groups:
Separatists:
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
Police officers: [lower-alpha 1]
In Operation Madago Raya: 18 killed In Insurgency in Aceh: less than 100 killed [16] In Din Minimi warband hunt operation: 2 killed [17] | Islamist groups: at least 110 killed (2001–2018) [18] [19] Contents
3,096 suspects arrested (2000–2023) [lower-alpha 4]
Separatists:
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Terrorism in Indonesia refer to acts of terrorism that take place within Indonesia or attacks on Indonesian people or interests abroad. These acts of terrorism often target the government of Indonesia or foreigners in Indonesia, most notably Western visitors, especially those from the United States and Australia.
In June 2015, Indonesia was taken off the Financial Action Task Force blacklist of 'Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories' (NCCTs) due to Indonesia no longer being non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. That gives Indonesia the same status as other major economies in the G20. [32]
Traditionally militias politically opposed to Indonesian government interests have been held responsible for terrorist attacks in Indonesia. Separatist and violent rebel movements operating in Indonesia, such as the Darul Islam, the Communist Party of Indonesia, Fretilin (East Timorese independence militia during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor), the Free Aceh Movement, and the Free Papua Organization were often held responsible for terrorist attacks, such as bombings and shooting. Recent terrorism in Indonesia can in part be attributed to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jemaah Islamiyah Islamist terrorist group and/or Islamic State.
Indonesia has worked with other countries to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of major bombings linked to militant Islamism. [33] Since 2003, a number of 'western targets' have been attacked. Victims have included both foreigners — mainly Western tourists — as well as Indonesian civilians. Terrorism in Indonesia intensified in 2000 with the Philippine consulate bombing in Jakarta and Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing, followed by four more large attacks. The deadliest killed 202 people (including 164 international tourists) in the Bali resort town of Kuta in 2002. [34] The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries, severely damaged Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects. [35] However, after the capture and killing of most of its key members and leaders, most notably Imam Samudra, Amrozi, Abu Dujana, Azahari Husin, and Noordin Mohammad Top, the terrorist cells in Indonesia have become less significant.
Since 2011, terrorist attacks seemed to shift from targeting foreign Western interests and residents to attacking Indonesian police officers. The Indonesian Police had success in cracking down on terrorist cells, and in retaliation a new terrorist cell, identified as the "Cirebon Cell", began targeting police officers. On 15 April 2011 a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device in a mosque in a police compound in the city of Cirebon, West Java, during Friday prayers. The bomber was killed and at least 28 people were injured. [36] [37] The same cell was also suspected of being involved in two more attacks in Solo, the suicide bombing of a church on 25 September 2011, and a shooting targeting police on 17 August 2012. However these attacks were not as well-prepared and high scaled as previous attacks organized by Jemaah Islamiyah.
Although the number of terrorist attacks seem to have reduced in both number and scale, some terrorist hotspots such as Poso, Central Sulawesi, remain. the Poso region was previously marred by religious violence between Muslims and Christians in the area. On 16 October 2012, Police discovered two corpses of murdered police that had been missing for three days in Tamanjeka village, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. The victims went missing during an investigatory mission to a suspected terrorist training ground in a forest the Poso area. [38]
Similar attacks targeting the Indonesian authorities, especially police officers, have also occurred in Papua, however these are not linked with Islamist terrorist cells, but rather with the Papuan separatist movement Organisasi Papua Merdeka. On 8 April 2012, a Trigana Air PK-YRF airplane was shot at by unidentified gunmen during a landing approach on Mulia airstrip, Puncak Jaya, Papua. A Papua Pos journalist, Kogoya (35), was killed in this shooting. [39] On 27 November 2012, three policemen stationed at the remote Pirime police post, Jayawijaya, Papua, were killed in an attack by a group of unidentified men. Police suspected the Papua separatist movement was behind the attack. [40]
Subsequent bombings in the centre of Jakarta, in which all but one victim were ordinary Indonesians, shocked the public and brought swift responses from the Indonesian security forces. Even the most reluctant politicians had to admit that the evidence pointed to a small group of Islamist agitators. The Jakarta bombings and legal prosecutions helped shift public opinion away from the use of extremist Islamic political violence, but also increased the influence of intelligence bodies, the police and military whose strength had diminished since 1998. [41]
Political factors clouded Indonesian responses to the "War on Terror"; politicians were at pains not to be seen to be bowing to US and Australian opinion. Even the term "Jemaah Islamiyah" is controversial in Indonesia as it means "Islamic community/congregation", and was also the subject of previous "New Order" manipulation. [42]
The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries including the United States [43] and Australia, [44] severely damaged Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects. Bali's economy was a particularly hard hit, as were tourism based businesses in other parts of Indonesia. In May 2008, the United States government decided to lift its warning. [44] In 2006, 227,000 Australians visited Indonesia and in 2007 this rose to 314,000. [44]
Detachment 88 is the Indonesian counter-terrorism squad, and part of the Indonesian National Police. Formed after the 2002 Bali bombings, the unit has had considerable success against the jihadi terrorist cells linked to the Central Java-based Islamist movement Jemaah Islamiah. [44]
Within three months after the 2002 Bali bombing, various militants, including the attack's mastermind Imam Samudra, the notorious 'smiling-bomber' Amrozi, and many others were apprehended. [45] Imam Samudra, Amrozi, and Amrozi's brother Ali Ghufron were executed by firing squad on 9 November 2008.
On 9 November 2005, bomb expert and senior player in Jemaah Islamiyah, Malaysian former university lecturer Dr. Azahari Husin, along with two other militants were killed in a raid on a house in Batu, East Java. [46]
The police forces uncovered JI's new command structure in March 2007 and discovered a weapons depot in Java in May 2007. Abu Dujana, suspected leader of JI's military wing and its possible emir, was apprehended on 9 June 2007. [47]
By May 2008, Indonesian police had arrested 418 suspects, of which approximately 250 had been tried and convicted. According to sources within Detachment 88, the JI organisation had been "shrunk", and many of its top operatives had been arrested or killed. [44]
On 17 July 2009, two blasts ripped two Jakarta hotels, JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, killing seven. [48] It was the first serious attack for the country in five years. The police stated that it was committed by a more radical splinter group of JI, led by the man then dubbed as the most wanted terrorist in Southeast Asia, Noordin Mohammad Top. Top was killed in a raid two months later on 17 September 2009, in Solo, Central Java. [49] All members of his cell were either killed or captured, including the recruiter and field coordinator of the attack, Ibrohim, killed on 12 August 2009, [50] and the one said to be his successor, Syaifudin Zuhri, killed on 9 October 2009. After Top, many believed that terrorism in Indonesia had run out of charismatic leaders, and grew insignificant. According to South East Asian terrorism expert and director of the South East Asia International Crisis Group, Sidney Jones, Top's death was "a huge blow for the extremist organizations in Indonesia and the region". [51]
On 9 March 2010, Dulmatin, a senior figure in the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and one of the most wanted terrorists in Southeast Asia was killed in a police raid in Pamulang, South Tangerang by Detachment 88. [52]
In May 2018, The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government agreed to ratify the draft revision of Law Number 15 of 2013 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism (the Anti-terrorism Bill) into law. [53] Previously, police have to wait for members of the suspected terror organisation to commit terrorism, in order to arrest them. The new anti-terrorism law gave the government the authority to identify and submit an organisation as a terrorist organisation to the court. In this new law, the membership to a terrorist cells or terrorist organisation groups, that have been established by the court, is enough to arrest and persecute a terrorist suspect, thus enabled the authority to perform preemptive measures prior to the terrorist attacks. Since then, the JAD (Jamaah Ansharut Daulah), JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), has been submitted as active terrorist groups in Indonesia, which membership to either of these organisation will be prosecuted immediately by Indonesian law. [54]
Date | Prov. | Location | Deaths | Injuries | Type | Perpetrator | Description |
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28 March 1981 | across provinces and countries | Garuda Indonesia Flight 206 | 6 | 2 | Hijacking | Commando Jihad | -- Airports & airlines
|
21 January 1985 | ![]() | Borobudur | 0 | 0 | Improvised explosive device | Husein Ali Al Habsyie | -- Religious figures & institutions |
15 March 1985 | ![]() | Banyuwangi | 7 | 14 | Improvised explosive device | Mochammad Achwan | -- Transport
|
19 April 1999 | ![]() | Merdeka Square | 0 | 4 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Religious figures & institutions |
1 August 2000 | ![]() | Menteng | 2 | 21 | Car bomb | - | -- Diplomatic |
14 September 2000 | ![]() | South Jakarta | 15 | 27 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Business
|
24 December 2000 | ![]() | Sukabumi | 3 | 20 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
|
24 December 2000 | ![]() | Bandung | 4 | 2 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions |
24 December 2000 | ![]() | Jakarta | 4 | 18 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
|
24 December 2000 | ![]() | Pekanbaru | 5 | 8 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
|
10 May 2001 | ![]() | Setiabudi | 2 | 2 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Government institutions
|
22 July 2001 | ![]() | Duren Sawit | 0 | 43 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Religious figures & institutions
|
3 April 2002 | ![]() | Ambon City | 4 | 58 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property |
5 June 2002 | ![]() | Poso | 5 | 17 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport |
12 July 2002 | ![]() | Poso | 1 | 5 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport |
8 August 2002 | ![]() | Poso | 1 | 4 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport |
4 September 2002 | ![]() | Ambon City | 4 | - | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property
|
12 October 2002 | ![]() | Kuta Beach | 202 | 250+ | Truck bomb & suicide bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
|
5 December 2002 | ![]() | Makassar | 3 | 15 | Suicide bombing | Laskar Jundullah Islamic Militia | -- Private citizens & property
|
26 April 2003 | ![]() | Soekarno–Hatta International Airport | 0 | 11 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property
|
5 August 2003 | ![]() | Setiabudi | 12 | 150 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
|
31 December 2003 | ![]() | Peureulak | 10 | 45 | Improvised explosive device | -- Private citizens & property
| |
10 January 2004 | ![]() | Palopo | 4 | 3 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property |
9 September 2004 | ![]() | Setiabudi | 9 | 150 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Diplomatic
|
13 November 2004 | ![]() | Poso | 6 | 3 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport |
28 May 2005 | ![]() | Tentena | 22 | 90 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property
|
1 October 2005 | ![]() | Kuta Beach & Jimbaran | 23 | 100 | Suicide bombing | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists) |
31 December 2005 | ![]() | Palu | 8 | 53 | Nail bomb | -- Private citizens & property | |
17 July 2009 | ![]() | Setiabudi | 9 | 53 | Suicide bombing | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
|
15 April 2011 | ![]() | Cirebon | 1 | 26 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Government institution |
25 September 2011 | ![]() | Solo | 1 | 14 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Religious figures & institutions |
16 October 2012 | ![]() | Poso | 2 | 0 | Small arms fire | - | -- Government institution
|
2 June 2013 | ![]() | Poso | 1 | 1 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Government institution |
14 January 2016 | ![]() | Central Jakarta | 5 | 24 | Suicide bombing, multiple explosions and shooting spree | ISIL | -- Government institution (police) and expatriates
|
24 May 2017 | ![]() | East Jakarta | 5 | 11 | Suicide bombings | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
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25 June 2017 | ![]() | Medan | 1 | 1 | Stabbing | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
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23 June 2017 | ![]() | South Jakarta | 1 | 2 | Stabbing | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
|
8 to 10 May 2018 | ![]() | Depok | 6 | 4 | Terrorist prison standoff | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
|
13 May 2018 | ![]() | Surabaya | 28 | 40 | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Religious figures & institutions
|
13 May 2018 | ![]() | Surabaya | 3 | 0 | Suicide bombings | - | -- Private citizens & property
|
14 May 2018 | ![]() | Surabaya | 10 | TBC | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
|
16 May 2018 | ![]() | Riau | 5 | 2 | Vehicular attack, stabbing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
|
5 July 2018 | ![]() | Bangil | 0 | 1 | Improvised explosive device | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Private citizens & property |
10 October 2019 | ![]() | Menes, Pandeglang, Banten | 0 | 1 | Stabbing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government official (minister)
|
13 November 2019 | ![]() | Medan | 1 | 6 | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police) |
28 March 2021 | ![]() | Makassar | 2 | 20 | Suicide bombing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Religious figures & institution
|
31 March 2021 | ![]() | South Jakarta | 1 | 0 | Shooting | ISIL | -- Government institution (police) |
Jemaah Islamiyah was a Southeast Asian Islamist militant group based in Indonesia, which was dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in Southeast Asia. On 25 October 2002, immediately following the JI-perpetrated 2002 Bali bombings, JI was added to the UN Security Council Resolution 1267.
A one-tonne car bomb, which was packed into a small Daihatsu delivery van, exploded outside the Australian embassy at Kuningan District, South Jakarta, at about 10:30 local time on 9 September 2004, killing 9 people including the suicide bomber, and wounding over 150 others. The explosion gutted the Greek embassy on the 12th floor of an adjacent building, where three diplomats were slightly wounded. Damage to the nearby Chinese embassy was also reported. Numerous office buildings surrounding the embassy were also damaged by the blast, which shattered windows in buildings 500 metres (500 yd) away, injuring many workers inside, mostly by broken glass.
A series of bombings occurred on 1 October 2005 in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs were detonated at two sites in Jimbaran Beach resort and in Kuta 30 km (19 mi) away, both in south Bali. The attack claimed the lives of 20 people and injured more than 100 others. The attack was known in Indonesia as the Second Bali Bombing to distinguish it from the 2002 attacks.
A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the lobby of the JW Marriott Jakarta hotel on 5 August 2003, killing 12 people and injuring 150. Those killed included 11 Indonesians and one Dutch national. The hotel was viewed as a Western symbol, and had been used by the United States embassy for various events. The hotel was closed for five weeks and reopened to the public on 8 September 2003.
Noordin Mohammad Top was a Malaysian Muslim extremist. He was also referred to as Noordin, Din Moch Top, Muh Top, Top M or Mat Top. Until his death, he was Indonesia's most wanted Islamist militant.
On 24 December 2000, a series of explosions took place in Indonesia, which were part of a high-scale terrorist attack by Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. The attack, which occurred on Christmas Eve, involved a series of coordinated bombings of churches in Jakarta and eight other cities which killed 18 people and injured many others.
Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88, or Densus 88, is an Indonesian National Police counter-terrorism squad formed on 30 June 2003, after the 2002 Bali bombings. It is funded, equipped, and trained by the United States through the Diplomatic Security Service's Antiterrorism Assistance Program and Australia.
Dulmatin was a senior figure in the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) based in Indonesia, and one of the most wanted terrorists in Southeast Asia. He was also known as Amar Usmanan, Joko Pitoyo, Joko Pitono, Abdul Matin, Pitono, Muktarmar, Djoko, and Noval. He also had the nickname "Genius". Dulmatin was an ethnic Javanese with a height of 172 cm, weighing 70 kg, with a brown complexion.
The Al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school also known as Pesantren Al-Mukmin and Pondok Ngruki, is a pesantren located in Ngruki, a suburb in the regency of Sukoharjo, Central Java, Indonesia. It was founded 1972 by the alleged 'spiritual head' of Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Bakar Bashir, and by Abdullah Sungkar. Al-Mukmin's activities were initially limited to religious discussion after dhuhr. Following increasing interest, the founders expanded Al-Mukmin into a madrasah and then into a pesantren. It currently houses over 2000 students aged between 12 and 18.
Operation Madago Raya, previously known as Operation Tinombala, is a joint police–military operation conducted by the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian Armed Forces to capture and/or eliminate members of Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT), an Indonesian terrorist group which supports ISIL and was commanded by Santoso. In 2016, the Indonesian military and police succeeded in killing Santoso, but the then Chief of the National Police Tito Karnavian continued the operation to ensure the region's safety from the remaining members of the group. Central Sulawesi governor Longki Djanggola praised the operation for its relatively humane methods, since several leaders of the group were successfully captured alive. Only 19 militants were, however, captured alive, while more than 40 were killed.
The National Counter Terrorism Agency is an Indonesian non-ministerial government department that works to prevent terrorism. BNPT is headed by a chief, who is responsible to the President. When it was first launched, the leader of BNPT held the ranking of a civil servant but the Presidential Regulation in 2012 elevated the post of BNPT Chief to the ministerial level.
The East Indonesia Mujahideen was an Islamist militant group operating out of Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The group was led by Abu Wardah until he was killed by Indonesian police on 18 July 2016. After the death of Santoso, the group was led by Ali Kalora until he was killed on 18 September 2021. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
On 24 May 2017, two explosions occurred at a bus terminal in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta. Police confirmed that the explosions were caused by multiple explosive devices found in the toilet and in another part of the terminal. The bombings killed five people: three policemen and two attackers. The 11 injured people were taken to multiple hospitals across the Eastern Jakarta area.
The 2018 Surabaya bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that initially occurred on 13 May 2018 in three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of East Java province. The explosions occurred at Immaculate Saint Mary Catholic Church on Ngagel Madya Street; Indonesia Christian Church on Diponegoro Street; and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church on Arjuno Street. The first explosion took place at the SMTB Church; the second and third explosions followed within an hour.
The Makassar cathedral bombing was an attack occurred on 28 March 2021, around 10:28 Central Indonesia Time (UTC+8) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, during a Palm Sunday service. It was the first church bombing in Indonesia since the 13 May 2018 bombings of three churches in Surabaya.
The Ummah Party is a political party in Indonesia. Party formation was announced on 1 October 2020 and the party was officially established on 29 April 2021.
Jamaah Ansharusy Syariah is an Islamist organization split from Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid. The organization described as splinter group of JAT, after Abu Bakar Ba’asyir expelled his sons and top aides from JAT following their refusal to support his pledge of support to the Islamic State (IS). JAS objective is the rival of JAT recruitment for followers in support of the full implementation of Sharia in Indonesia. JAS claimed a membership of 2,000 in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bengkulu.
The Indonesian People's Da'wah Party is an Indonesian Islamist political party, founded by Farid Okbah and other Indonesian Islamists on May 31, 2021. The party was later accused of being affiliated with Jemaah Islamiyah and became the centre of a crackdown on November 16, 2021. The accusation shocked many Indonesians due to the fact it was potentially the first time in Indonesian history that a potential terrorist organisation disguised operations as a political party and attempted to intervene and participate in the Indonesian political system.
On 7 December 2022, at around 8:20 AM Western Indonesia Time (UTC+7), a suicide bombing incident occurred at an Indonesian National Police station in Astana Anyar District, Bandung, West Java. The attacker and one police officer were killed by the explosion, while 11 people were injured including 3 police officers.