JAKARTA • Indonesian police have arrested three militants with links to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group who were planning bomb attacks during Independence Day celebrations next week, police and sources said yesterday.

The men were plotting to attack churches and a police station in the city of Solo, on the main island of Java, on Monday when the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of its declaration of independence, police said.

Elite anti-terror police detained the men in the city on Wednesday, local police chief Nur Ali said.

Solo is the home town of President Joko Widodo.

"Due to the hard work of the police and help from the people, the police managed to foil their plan to conduct terror," Mr Nur said.

Those arrested were a 29-year-old bomb-maker, another man who helped to mix explosives and a third man who helped to plan and survey targets, he said. Chemicals used in bomb-making, explosives and 21 detonators were seized in a series of raids.

Police said the men had links to a militant network in Syria, without giving more details.

A source with the anti-terror police said several ISIS flags and shirts were seized from the men. He said the trio had received orders and funding from an Indonesian extremist who is now an ISIS member in Syria.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE