Indonesian national Yudi Lukito Kurniawan was arrested in Gorontalo, in the northern part of Sulawesi island, on Aug 21. - INDONESIA'S ANTI-TERROR DETACHMENT 88
JAKARTA: Singapore authorities have not yet ruled out the possibility that a recently arrested terror suspect, who allegedly planned unrealised attacks a decade ago, might have been preparing to strike again when he tried to enter the country a year later.
Investigations are ongoing, and Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said that it is in close contact with its Indonesian counterparts over the recent arrest.
The Straits Times reported on Tuesday (Sept 3) that a 51-year-old Indonesian national, Yudi Lukito Kurniawan, was arrested in Gorontalo, in the northern part of Sulawesi island, on Aug 21 over his current and past participation and role in Indonesia’s terrorist networks.
Responding to queries from ST, the ISD said that it was aware that an Indonesian, referred to as “YLK” in media reports, was recently arrested in Indonesia for terrorism-related investigations.
These include his suspected affiliation with the terrorist group al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and alleged involvement in an AQAP-linked attack plot targeting the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in 2014, the department added.
“ISD first received information on the attack plot against the SGX in 2016 and subsequently on YLK’s alleged involvement in the plot, and has been coordinating closely with the Indonesian authorities in the investigations.”
According to a statement sent to ST on Sept 3 by Detachment 88, Indonesia’s national police counter-terrorism squad, Yudi was with the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula – the Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda – when the plan to target the SGX Centre in Singapore’s Shenton Way was hatched.
ISD said that YLK was known to the department since the early 2000s for terrorism-related activities.
As a member of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Indonesia, YLK went for militant training in Mindanao in the Philippines from the late 1990s to early 2000s.
He was arrested and imprisoned in Indonesia for the illegal possession of firearms, before he was subsequently released.
Due to his JI-related terrorism activity, ISD had placed YLK on an entry watchlist as part of its border security measures.
The department confirmed that he was denied entry while attempting to visit Singapore in February 2015, and deported to Batam.
“ISD has not yet ruled out the possibility that YLK’s attempted trip to Singapore was for reconnaissance purposes to further the attack plot against the SGX,” it said.
Apart from the attempted visit to Singapore in 2015, he has not made other visits to the Republic.
“Investigations remain ongoing, and we are in close contact with our Indonesian counterparts over the recent arrest,” said the department.
The foiled plot serves as a reminder that Singapore continues to be a “prized target” by global terror groups, and ISD stressed that while there is no imminent threat to Singapore at this point in time, the threat remains high.
“The public is urged to maintain vigilance and promptly report any suspicious individuals or activities to the authorities.” - The Straits Times/ANN
