by Mathias Hariyadi

Thousands of police officers deployed for Eid al Fitri, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer. In recent days, a bomb exploded in a shopping center, without causing casualties. Fears of attacks by local cells affiliated to the Islamic State. Not just foreigners, but Indonesians themselves are being targeted.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesia is on high alert for possible attacks to coincide with the celebrations - and the simultaneous exodus from major cities –for Eid al Fitri, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer, on 17 and 18 July.

The authorities have deployed thousands of police to patrol the streets and landmarks, fearing further violence. Meanwhile, experts of Islamic terrorism in the country emphasize a radical change in the jihadists’ targets: in the past (see the Bali bombing in 2002) foreigners and places frequented by Western tourists were targeted; Today, however, the battle and its targets are all domestic.

The confirmation follows the July 10 attack, which did not cause victims, on in a shopping center on the outskirts of Jakarta. An improvised explosive device exploded in the Alam Sutera Shopping Mall, located in the district of Tangerang. The center was crowded with people, as often happens in these days before the great exodus, but the bomb caused only minor damage to the structure, without causing deaths or injuries.

However, the terrorist attack has undermined the atmosphere for the upcoming end of Ramadan when people crowd markets and shopping malls.

Gen. Tito Karnavian, chief inspector of police in Jakarta, believes that the attack is the work of local Islamic extremist groups; suspicions converge on small factions, which are inspired by - and publically support - the Islamic state, with active cells in Indonesia. The jihadist movement called for a strike during the holy month of Ramadan and, according to investigators, the explosion at the mall falls within this context.

There is a distinct possibility, added Gen. Karnavian, that the attack is related to the call by the IS spokesman Muhammad Al-Adnani, who urged all the jihad fighters "to carry out missions in the holy month" of fasting and prayer.

The official speaks of cells operating in the country, that could hit as occurred in recent weeks in Tunisia, Kuwait and France. "We are monitoring their presence – he warned - and all possibilities are being investigated."

The General explains another important element: all the recent attacks have affected shopping centers and other places frequented mostly by Indonesians. Compared with the past, therefore, the struggle launched by cells linked to the Islamic State affects first of all "our citizens", and consequently also foreigners.

As already reported by AsiaNews, Southeast Asian Islamic fundamentalist movements and leaders have found inspiration in the exploits of Mideast Sunni fighters and back their struggle for the creation of the Caliphate, which now branches out into various regions of Asia.

Extremist cells and recruiters are active as much in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, as in neighbouring Malaysia and the Philippines. Jihadists are operating in these countries, preparing attacks against pubs, discos and bars, dreaming of the Islamic caliphate.

So far, there are no official figures for the number of Indonesians in Jihadist ranks in Iraq and Syria. However, according to some police estimates at least 30 people are fighting with the terrorists, mostly "ex-convicts and criminals".

 

• INDONESIA
• -
• ISLAM
• ramadan
• islamic
• state
• alert