Indonesia on alert for copycat attacks after Moscow shooting

Govt monitoring groups and individuals, including self-radicalised lone wolves

- Hariz Baharudin

Indonesia is on alert for terrorists who might be motivated by the recent deadly shooting in Russia to conduct attacks in the archipelago, the government said.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto said in a press conference on March 25 that the government was monitoring both groups and individuals who could stage similar attacks, including self-radicalised lone wolves.

In what has been the deadliest attack in Russia in two decades, four men burst into the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on the night of March 22 during a concert, killing more than 130 people and injuring over 100 others.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the incident, the Indonesian authorities stepped up their monitoring of potential terror networks, said Mr Hadi. He added that agencies involved included his ministry, the National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT), the State Intelligence Agency and the anti-terror police force Densus 88.