Some details have emerged from the arrest of an armed woman who failed to breach the security parameter of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta yesterday, including her motive for the crime.
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The terror suspect, identified as 24-year-old SE, was detained by security personnel after she took out a hand gun just outside the outer perimeter fence of the Presidential Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara.
In a press conference today, the Jakarta Metro Police ascertained from interrogating the suspect that she wanted to meet with President Joko Widodo and lecture the head of state.
“She wanted to tell [Jokowi] that Indonesia is misguided, because it’s not based on Islamic law, rather its state ideology of Pancasila,” Jakarta Metro Police General Crimes Director Grand Commissioner Hengki Haryadi said.
The National Terrorism Agency (BNPT) said SE is a sympathizer of the outlawed hardline organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Hizbut Tahrir is a global Islamic political organization and HTI is its Indonesian branch. The organization aims to re-establish an Islamic Caliphate that unites Muslim all over the world under Sharia Law, while rejecting state ideologies like Indonesia’s Pancasila.
BNPT says it’s looking into whether SE acted alone or if she is part of a larger terrorism network.
Police found another handgun and an airsoft gun during a raid of SE’s home in Koja, North Jakarta. Civilian ownership of guns is illegal in Indonesia, and it’s understood that SE stole the weapon from her uncle, whose profession was not disclosed.
