Indonesian terrorist who planned in 2014 to attack S’pore might have wanted to strike in 2015: ISD
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Indonesian national Yudi Lukito Kurniawan was arrested in Gorontalo, in the northern part of Sulawesi island, on Aug 21.
PHOTO: INDONESIA'S ANTI-TERROR DETACHMENT 88
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JAKARTA – The Singapore authorities have not yet ruled out the possibility that a recently arrested terror suspect, who allegedly planned unrealised attacks in 2014, might have been preparing to strike when he tried to enter the country a year later.
Investigations are ongoing, and Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said it is in close contact with its Indonesian counterparts over the recent arrest.
The Straits Times reported on Sept 3 that a 51-year-old Indonesian national, Yudi Lukito Kurniawan, was arrested in Gorontalo
Responding to queries from ST, the ISD said 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 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 AQAP – the Yemeni branch of Al-Qaeda – when the plan to target the SGX Centre in Singapore’s Shenton Way was hatched.
ISD said it had known of YLK’s terrorism-related activities since the early 2000s.
As a member of 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.
The foiled plot serves as a reminder that Singapore continues to be a “prized target” for global terror groups
It stressed that while there is no imminent threat to the Republic 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.”
