JAKARTA – Indonesian police said on Friday it had foiled a plot by militants with ties to the Islamic State extremist group to detonate bombs using a remote control.
“Counter-terrorism police have in April arrested 29 members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, a local militant group affiliated with Islamic State,’’ national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said.
Iqbal said that the group was planning to stage an attack during a rally on May 22, when the electoral commission announces results from April’s election.
“The suspects planned to take advantage of the demonstration to create chaos.
Police seized five home-made bombs, detonators, an air rifle, five caches of bullets and a knife from the suspects,’’ Iqbal said.
Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have threatened to demonstrate what they call “people power” on May 22, accusing the government of incumbent President Joko Widodo of rigging the election.
Prabowo on Wednesday said he would reject what he called “fraudulent election results.’’
A preliminary official tally and several counts by independent pollsters put Joko on track for a second term with 55 or 56 per cent of the votes.
The government has dismissed the accusations of fraud, saying that the elections were free and fair, while acknowledging minor glitches in the counting process.
