In early September, Indonesian authorities arrested seven suspects accused of threatening violence against Pope Francis during his visit from September 3 to 6. The arrests were made by Densus 88, Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism unit. The suspects had posted threats on social media, including plans to harm the pope and set fire to sites where he would be speaking, including churches.
Details of Arrests and Threats
According to Densus 88 spokesperson Aswin Siregar, the suspects made terror threats and propaganda in response to the pope’s visit. While the suspects acted independently, most were allegedly influenced by Islamic extremist groups like ISIS. Two suspects were arrested on September 2 in Jakarta and Bogor, followed by the arrest of three more in Bekasi on September 3. Additional suspects were detained in Sumatra on September 4, including one who posted on social media threatening to harm the pope. One suspect even made direct threats on TikTok.
Counterterrorism Measures in Indonesia
Indonesia has seen increasing extremist activity this year, with authorities intensifying efforts to prevent attacks. In July, a 19-year-old extremist was arrested for planning to attack churches. Authorities are particularly concerned about the growing influence of Islamic extremism among teenagers and women, who online extremist groups are increasingly recruiting. Indonesia ranks 42nd on the World Watch List for countries where Christians face persecution, a reflection of the challenges posed by extremist violence.
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Seven Arrested in Indonesia for Terrorist Threats against Pope
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