Indonesian authorities have detained seven individuals in connection with a foiled terror plot aimed at attacking Pope Francis during his visit to Jakarta earlier this week. Most of the arrests took place on September 2 and 3 in Jakarta, as well as in the surrounding cities of Bogor, Bekasi, West Sumatra province, and Bangka Belitung Islands province, according to statements from the national police’s anti-terrorism unit, Detachment-88, as reported by The Straits Times.
Pope Francis’s visit, part of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour that includes stops in Jakarta and Singapore, concluded its first leg on September 6. The visit is significant, especially in light of ongoing abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, and has been expected to impact the region positively.
Colonel Aswin Siregar, spokesman for Detachment-88, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and it remains unclear whether the detainees are connected or part of a coordinated terror cell. He noted that the police had received tip-offs from the public regarding potential threats.
Searches conducted at the home of one of the suspects revealed alarming items, including bows, arrows, a drone, and ISIS propaganda materials. Some of those arrested had reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS. One detainee is linked to the same extremist group responsible for the 2019 stabbing of Indonesia’s former Chief Security Minister, Wiranto.
The motivations behind the plot appear to stem from discontent regarding the Pope’s visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. The Indonesian government’s request for television stations to temporarily halt the broadcasting of the Islamic call to prayer (azaan) in favor of live coverage of the Pope’s visit further fueled anger among the militants.
Despite the security concerns, Pope Francis continued with his itinerary, including a meeting with the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, where they signed a declaration promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation against violence.
Following his time in Indonesia, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Papua New Guinea, marking the second leg of his four-nation tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania. His itinerary includes visits to East Timor and Singapore before concluding the tour.
