Remember when a bomb went off in ITC Depok on February 23? Maybe not. Besides a loud bang, the poorly made bomb caused little damage and no casualties. So the media quickly forgot about the story.
But now Indonesia’s anti-terrorism forces have voiced their suspicions that the bomb might have in fact been the work of the a member or members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Indonesia.
In a story published today by the Sydney Morning Herald, National Police Inspector-General M. Tito Karnavian said the bomb could have been the work of returned terrorists:
The main reason for the suspected ISIS connection is that the bomb contained chlorine gas, one of ISIS’ signature weapons.
Tito said the bomb showed the risk that returning ISIS fighters pose to Indonesia.
“Our danger is when they return they could pose attacks because they have got a network and they have got militancy,” the general told SMH.
Tito also said that out of the 159 Indonesians that the government has confirmed left to fight for ISIS, 11 had returned to Indonesia. Three of the 11 have already been arrested while the other 8 are being watched.
[H/T to Catriona Croft-Cusworth of the Interpreter for the additional information and video!]
