Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit has apprehended 11 terrorism suspects in coordinated raids spanning six provinces, authorities announced on October 4. The arrests, which began on October 2, took place in West Java, Central Java, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Riau, and North Maluku as part of a broader operation targeting militant networks across the country.

The suspects, ranging in age from 22 to 52, are believed to have links to groups associated with Daulah Islamiyah—an Indonesian term commonly used to describe the Islamic State (ISIS) and its ideological affiliates—as well as other extremist organizations, according to Mayndra Eka Wardhana, a spokesman for the Densus 88 counter-terrorism task force. Their alleged activities include recruitment, network consolidation, propaganda dissemination, training, and involvement in conspiracies related to terrorist offenses. Investigators found evidence of virtual meetings connecting Daulah Islamiyah supporters from multiple regions, which were used for indoctrination and coordination.

Densus 88 indicated that some of those detained had engaged in militant training exercises, including shooting practice, though details about locations or confiscated weapons were not disclosed. The names of the suspects were released only as initials: HN (43), SM alias NM (52), HA (45), YDKAP (22), S (49), A (32), CG (29), J (36), MF (37), AF (26), and MW (42).

In Central Sulawesi, provincial police spokesman Achmad Muhai-min confirmed the arrest of three individuals—A, CG, and S—on October 2. A and CG were detained in Tomoli Utara village, Parigi Moutong regency, north of Palu, while S was arrested in Poso regency. Poso has a history of militant activity and was previously a stronghold for the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT), an ISIS-affiliated armed group that Indonesian security forces have targeted extensively over the years. Authorities are continuing to investigate the specific affiliations and roles of these suspects.

Separately, a young man identified as YDKAP was apprehended in Solo, Central Java, on the evening of October 1. His family said they were informed of the arrest the following day when officers brought an arrest warrant to their home. They described him as a worker in a water-refill business and a duck restaurant, with no prior indication of extremist involvement. The family emphasized the importance of respecting his legal rights and the presumption of innocence, noting they had not been told the specific charges or the nature of the suspicions against him.

The large-scale operation marks a renewed focus on combating terrorism in Indonesia amid rising concerns over youth involvement in extremist movements across Southeast Asia. Despite Indonesia now entering its fourth consecutive year without a terrorist attack, authorities warn that militant networks remain active, increasingly shifting their recruitment and propaganda efforts to online platforms. Densus 88 has not detailed whether any concrete attack plans were uncovered during the investigations or provided a comprehensive breakdown of all the arrests by province.