Indonesia has arrested seven individuals for making online terror threats against Pope Francis during his visit to the world’s most populous Muslim country this week.
The 87-year-old pope’s trip to Indonesia aimed to promote religious unity amidst concerns of extremism and intolerance. The arrests took place in several locations, including Jakarta, West Sumatra, and Bangka Belitung.
The suspects are accused of making bomb threat posts regarding Pope Francis’s public meetings in Jakarta on social media.
According to Aswin Siregar, the spokesman for Indonesia’s elite counter-terrorism unit Densus 88, “Densus 88 has taken legal action against seven individuals… who made threats in the form of propaganda or terror threats via social media in response to the pope’s arrival.”
“There was also a threat to set fire to the locations,” Aswin added.
During his visit, Pope Francis was scheduled to visit notable sites like Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, Jakarta’s cathedral, the presidential palace, and the national football stadium. To ensure his safety, security measures have been heightened. Roads around these key sites have been modified, either re-routed or closed off.
The roots of the arrested suspects’ beliefs were not divulged, but Indonesia has a history of grappling with Islamist militancy. The country witnessed its deadliest attack in 2002, when bombings on Bali island resulted in 202 fatalities.
The security detail for Pope Francis’s visit included around 4,000 personnel, comprising snipers, soldiers, police officers, and his personal security team.
After finishing his engagements in Indonesia, the pope is set to continue his Asia-Pacific tour with stops in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
The 87-year-old pope’s trip to Indonesia aimed to promote religious unity amidst concerns of extremism and intolerance. The arrests took place in several locations, including Jakarta, West Sumatra, and Bangka Belitung.
The suspects are accused of making bomb threat posts regarding Pope Francis’s public meetings in Jakarta on social media.
According to Aswin Siregar, the spokesman for Indonesia’s elite counter-terrorism unit Densus 88, “Densus 88 has taken legal action against seven individuals… who made threats in the form of propaganda or terror threats via social media in response to the pope’s arrival.”
“There was also a threat to set fire to the locations,” Aswin added.
During his visit, Pope Francis was scheduled to visit notable sites like Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, Jakarta’s cathedral, the presidential palace, and the national football stadium. To ensure his safety, security measures have been heightened. Roads around these key sites have been modified, either re-routed or closed off.
The roots of the arrested suspects’ beliefs were not divulged, but Indonesia has a history of grappling with Islamist militancy. The country witnessed its deadliest attack in 2002, when bombings on Bali island resulted in 202 fatalities.
The security detail for Pope Francis’s visit included around 4,000 personnel, comprising snipers, soldiers, police officers, and his personal security team.
After finishing his engagements in Indonesia, the pope is set to continue his Asia-Pacific tour with stops in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
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