6 arrested with explosive in Aceh

6 arrested with explosive in Aceh
The Jakarta Post, March 16, 2012

Aceh Police have detained six people in the province of Aceh who were allegedly in possession of a homemade bomb. They are currently facing terrorism charges.

The six – identified only as U, aka SU, US, K, aka NC, M, R and S – were arrested on March 10 when they were on their way from Aceh Besar to Aceh Barat.

“Their car was stopped at a police checkpoint in Lhong village. The police conducted a search inside their vehicle and found low explosive materials,” said National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution on Friday.

Some of the evidence confiscated by the police included wires, fuses, light bulbs, batteries, metal pieces and tubes.

Before the arrest was made, Aceh Police had received intelligence reports on the six individuals. “That is why the police followed them that day,” Saud added.

He said they were still in the early stages of an investigation and could not decide whether the detainees belonged to a certain group or not, or precisely confirm what their motives might have been. (tas)