Indonesian police detain 7 in failed plot to attack Pope

Pontiff's mosque visit, azan broadcast replacement may have angered militants

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

Indonesia Correspondent JAKARTA - The Indonesian police have detained seven people in a failed plot to attack Pope Francis, who wrapped up the first leg of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour in the archipelago on Sept 6.

A total of seven people were detained, mostly on Sept 2 and 3, in Jakarta, in the outlying cities of Bogor and Bekasi, West Sumatra province and Bangka Belitung Islands province, according to the media statement issued on Sept 6 by Indonesia's national police antiterrorism squad Detachment-88.

The initials of the arrested are HFP, LB, DF, FA, HS, ER and RS, the statement said.

Detachment-88 spokesman Aswin Siregar told reporters that investigations are ongoing, and it has not yet been established whether the seven detainees know each other, or are members of the same terror cell.