Indonesian police say they have arrested seven people suspected of plotting an attack on Pope Francisduring his visit to the world’s most populous Muslim country. The Densus-88 counterterrorism unit said the arrests were carried out between Monday and Tuesday in the cities of Bogor, 50 km from Jakarta, and Bekasi, east of the capital’s metropolitan area.
During a search of the house of one of the suspects, material was found that showed they were preparing an attack against the Pope who from Jakarta launched a message of religious unity to counter extremism and intolerance. A bow and arrow, a drone and propaganda material of the Islamic State were seized.
Densus-88 spokesman Aswin Siregar said the investigation was ongoing and it was not clear whether the seven knew each other or were part of a single terrorist cell.