Attackers behind Jakarta bomb and gun rampage ‘are known IS militants’

Two of the five attackers who launched a deadly gun and bomb assault on the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, were known extremists, police said on Friday. One of them, Afif Sunakim, seen carrying a gun and rucksack during the attacks, was previously jailed for seven years for attending a militant camp. He was one of two “known to have committed similar radical activities some time ago”, according to police. Four of the five attackers who died alongside two civilians in Thursday’s assault have been identified but a hunt is under way for terror cells believed to be behind the attack.

The most important thing, thank God, is that yesterday, in a very short time - three to four hours - the situation was brought under control.

President Joko 'Jokowi’ Widodo

Police believe the attack, which led to three-hour gun battle in a Starbucks cafe, was funded by the Islamic State group. They arrested three men on suspicion of links to the plot on Friday morning and seized an IS flag from the home of one of the identified bombers. Later on Friday, Indonesia’s president visited the scene of the attack in the city’s business district. His visit was aimed at conveying the message that things had returned to normal. Thronged by media, president Joko 'Jokowi’ Widodo briefly toured the area Friday and spoke to workers in the Sarinah department store, the city’s oldest, which was at the heart of the audacious assault.

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