The Islamic State (ISIS) group is working to boost its presence in Indonesia with dreams of creating a “distant caliphate” in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Australia warned Tuesda
The Islamic State (ISIS) group is working to boost its presence in Indonesia with dreams of creating a “distant caliphate” in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Australia warned Tuesday.
Attorney-general George Brandis, who spent Monday in meetings between Indonesian and Australian ministers, police chiefs and security officials, said it constituted a threat to Australian and Western interests.
“ISIS has ambitions to elevate its presence and level of activity in Indonesia, either directly or through surrogates,” he told The Australian newspaper. “You’ve heard the expression the ‘distant caliphate’
“ISIS has a declared intention to establish caliphates beyond the Middle East, provincial caliphates in effect. It has identified Indonesia as a location of its ambitions.”
The ISIS, which adheres to a fundamentalist doctrine of Sunni Islam, has already declared caliphates in several areas outside Syria and northern Iraq where it holds a swathe of territory.
Mr Brandis’ comments follow Indonesian police foiling plans for a suicide attack in Jakarta and arresting radicals linked to the ISIS.
Three-day raids across Java ending Sunday saw the confiscation of explosive materials and an IS-inspired flag as well as nine arrests.
The extremists were targeting shopping malls, police stations and minority groups across the country, Indonesia’s national police chief said.
