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https://indianexpress.com/article/w...-terror-threats-against-pope-francis-9554108/
Indonesian police detained seven persons in connection with a failed plot to attack Pope Francis, who completed the first leg of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour on Friday, news agency Reuters stated.
The detainees were arrested in Jakarta, in the outlying cities of Bogor and Bekasi, West Sumatra province and Bangka Belitung Islands province, according to The Straits Times, which cited a statement from Indonesia's anti-terrorism squad, Detachment-88.
The investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether the detainees are connected or part of the same terror cell. Detachment-88 spokesperson Aswin Siregar mentioned that the arrests followed a public tip-off. The detainees, who were mostly apprehended on Monday and Tuesday, had their homes searched, revealing items such as bows and arrows, a drone, and ISIS leaflets.
Some of those arrested had pledged allegiance to ISIS. One detainee was reportedly a militant linked to the same group that attacked Indonesia's former chief security minister Wiranto in 2019.
The militants were reportedly angered by the Pope's visit to Jakarta's Istiqlal mosque, and the government's request for TV stations to avoid broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer during the Pope's visit.
Indonesia's long-standing battle against terrorism includes notable attacks such as the 2002 Bali bombing and the 2009 Jakarta hotel attacks.
