Six terror suspects killed in Indonesia

At least six terror suspects were killed in a gunfight with the police in Indonesia's East Java, an official said on Sunday.

National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the killed terrorists were members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) cornered in a rice plantation of Tuban regency after firing at two traffic police on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Amar said the standoff started around 10 a.m. on Saturday when they fired at two Tuban policemen from a car.

During the chase, they got out of the car and fled into the rice field where they were eventually shot dead by mobile brigade and counter-terrorism police.

The police seized the suspects' car, six firearms, dozens of 9 mm bullets, four cell phones, a two-way radio, knives and terror-related propaganda material.

"The attack is an order from Zainal Anshori, JAD leader, as a revenge of his arrest by counter-terrorism police on Friday," Amar said.

Four of the dead have been identified as Adi Handoko, Satria Aditama, Yudhistira Rostiprayogi, and Endar Prasetyo.

JAD is an umbrella group of Indonesian extremists that was formed in 2015 and claimed allegiance to the Islamic State militant group.

Indonesia as the world's largest Muslim population has been on high alert over a recent resurgence in radicalism inspired by the IS.

Authorities believe about 400 Indonesians have left to join the militant group in Syria.

--IANS

py/vt