| Terrorism in Indonesia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of thewar on terror | |||||||
From top, left to right:
| |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Islamist groups:
Separatists:
Neo-Nazists:
| ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Former:
| Islamists: Komando Jihad
Mujahidin Tanah Runtuh
Indonesian Mujahedeen Council
Mujahidin Indonesia Barat
Abu Uswah network
Jamaah Ansharusy Syariah
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah Mujahedeen KOMPAK
Separatists:
(until 2005)
Neo-Nazists:
| ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
Indonesia armed force and police inOperation Madago Raya: 3,000 InInsurgency in Aceh: 35,000–50,000 (2005) InDin Minimi warband hunt operation: unknown InPapua conflict: 30,000 | Terrorist groups:
Separatists:
| ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
Police officers:[c] InOperation Madago Raya: 18 killed InInsurgency in Aceh: less than 100 killed[21] InDin Minimi warband hunt operation: 2 killed[22] Total: 1,370 casualties (as of August 2022)[23] | Islamist groups:at least 110 killed (2001–2018)[24][25] 3,292 suspects arrested (2000–2024)[f]
Separatists:
Neo-Nazists:
| ||||||
Terrorism in Indonesia refer to acts ofterrorism that take place withinIndonesia or attacks onIndonesian people or interests abroad. These acts of terrorism often target thegovernment of Indonesia or foreigners in Indonesia, most notablyWestern visitors, especially those from theUnited States andAustralia.
In June 2015, Indonesia was taken off theFinancial Action Task Forceblacklist of 'Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories' (NCCTs) due to Indonesia no longer being non-cooperative in the global fight againstmoney laundering and terrorist financing. That gives Indonesia the same status as other major economies in theG20.[40]
Traditionallymilitias politically opposed to Indonesian government interests have been held responsible for terrorist attacks in Indonesia.Separatist and violentrebel movements operating in Indonesia, such as theDarul Islam, theCommunist Party of Indonesia,Fretilin (East Timorese independencemilitia during theIndonesian occupation of East Timor), theFree Aceh Movement, and theFree Papua Organisation were often held responsible for terrorist attacks, such as bombings and shooting. Recent terrorism in Indonesia can in part be attributed to theal-Qaeda-affiliatedJemaah IslamiyahIslamistterrorist group and/orIslamic State.
Indonesia has worked with other countries to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of major bombings linked to militantIslamism.[41] Since 2003, a number of 'western targets' have been attacked. Victims have included both foreigners — mainly Westerntourists — as well as Indonesiancivilians. Terrorism in Indonesia intensified in 2000 with thePhilippine consulate bombing in Jakarta andJakarta Stock Exchange bombing, followed by four more large attacks.The deadliest killed 202 people (including 164 international tourists) in theBali resort town ofKuta in 2002.[42] The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries, severely damaged Indonesia'stourism industry and foreign investment prospects.[43] However, after the capture and killing of most of its key members and leaders, most notablyImam Samudra,Amrozi,Abu Dujana,Azahari Husin, andNoordin Mohammad Top, theterrorist cells in Indonesia have become less significant.
Since 2011, terrorist attacks seemed to shift from targeting foreign Western interests and residents to attacking Indonesian police officers. The Indonesian Police had success in cracking down on terrorist cells, and in retaliation a new terrorist cell, identified as the "Cirebon Cell", began targeting police officers. On 15 April 2011 asuicide bomber detonated animprovised explosive device in amosque in a police compound in the city ofCirebon, West Java, duringFriday prayers. The bomber was killed and at least 28 people were injured.[44][45] The same cell was also suspected of being involved in two more attacks inSolo, the suicide bombing of a church on 25 September 2011, and a shooting targeting police on 17 August 2012. However these attacks were not as well-prepared and high scaled as previous attacks organised by Jemaah Islamiyah.
Although the number of terrorist attacks seem to have reduced in both number and scale, some terrorist hotspots such asPoso, Central Sulawesi, remain. the Poso region was previously marred by religious violence betweenMuslims andChristians in the area. On 16 October 2012, Police discovered two corpses ofmurdered police that had been missing for three days in Tamanjeka village, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. The victims went missing during an investigatory mission to a suspected terrorist training ground in a forest the Poso area.[46]
Similar attacks targeting the Indonesian authorities, especially police officers, have also occurred inPapua, however these are not linked with Islamist terrorist cells, but rather with the Papuanseparatist movementOrganisasi Papua Merdeka. On 8 April 2012, a Trigana Air PK-YRF airplane was shot at by unidentified gunmen during a landing approach on Mulia airstrip, Puncak Jaya,Papua. A Papua Pos journalist, Kogoya (35), was killed in this shooting.[47] On 27 November 2012, three policemen stationed at the remote Pirime police post, Jayawijaya, Papua, were killed in an attack by a group of unidentified men. Police suspected the Papua separatist movement was behind the attack.[48]
In 2025, afterJakarta school bombing,Neo-Nazi terrorism activities become another challenge to the Indonesian security because their capability in mobilizing children and teenagers as their terror actors.[49][50] On 30 December 2025, Police also uncovered 5 individuals that manned an unnamed Neo-Nazi network, which planned to indoctrinate 110 children and teenagers from 23 provinces by recruiting them through theTerrorgram circle "True Crime Community" and violent games as result of the follow up and investigation of the bomber's internet circles.[51][52]
Subsequent bombings in the centre of Jakarta, in which all but one victim were ordinary Indonesians, shocked the public and brought swift responses from the Indonesian security forces. Even the most reluctant politicians had to admit that the evidence pointed to a small group of Islamist agitators. The Jakarta bombings and legal prosecutions helped shift public opinion away from the use of extremistIslamic political violence, but also increased the influence of intelligence bodies, the police and military whose strength had diminished since 1998.[53]
Political factors clouded Indonesian responses to the "war on terror"; politicians were at pains not to be seen to be bowing to US and Australian opinion. Even the term "Jemaah Islamiyah" is controversial in Indonesia as it means "Islamic community/congregation", and was also the subject of previous "New Order" manipulation.[54]
The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries including the United States[55] and Australia,[56] severely damagedIndonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects. Bali's economy was a particularly hard hit, as were tourism based businesses in other parts of Indonesia. In May 2008, the United States government decided to lift its warning.[56] In 2006, 227,000 Australians visited Indonesia and in 2007 this rose to 314,000.[56]
Detachment 88 is the Indonesiancounter-terrorism squad, and part of theIndonesian National Police. Formed after the2002 Bali bombings, the unit has had considerable success against thejihadi terrorist cells linked to theCentral Java-basedIslamist movementJemaah Islamiah.[56]
Within three months after the 2002 Bali bombing, various militants, including the attack's mastermindImam Samudra, the notorious 'smiling-bomber'Amrozi, and many others were apprehended.[57] Imam Samudra, Amrozi, and Amrozi's brotherAli Ghufron were executed by firing squad on 9 November 2008.
On 9 November 2005, bomb expert and senior player inJemaah Islamiyah, Malaysian former university lecturerDr. Azahari Husin, along with two other militants were killed in a raid on a house inBatu, East Java.[58]
The police forces uncovered JI's new command structure in March 2007 and discovered a weapons depot in Java in May 2007.Abu Dujana, suspected leader of JI's military wing and its possible emir, was apprehended on 9 June 2007.[59]
By May 2008, Indonesian police had arrested 418 suspects, of which approximately 250 had been tried and convicted. According to sources within Detachment 88, the JI organisation had been "shrunk", and many of its top operatives had been arrested or killed.[56]
On 17 July 2009,two blasts ripped two Jakarta hotels, JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, killing seven.[60] It was the first serious attack for the country in five years. The police stated that it was committed by a more radical splinter group of JI, led by the man then dubbed as the most wanted terrorist in Southeast Asia,Noordin Mohammad Top.Top was killed in a raid two months later on 17 September 2009, inSolo, Central Java.[61] All members of his cell were either killed or captured, including the recruiter and field coordinator of the attack,Ibrohim, killed on 12 August 2009,[62] and the one said to be his successor,Syaifudin Zuhri, killed on 9 October 2009. After Top, many believed that terrorism in Indonesia had run out of charismatic leaders, and grew insignificant. According to South East Asian terrorism expert and director of the South East AsiaInternational Crisis Group, Sidney Jones, Top's death was "a huge blow for the extremist organizations in Indonesia and the region".[63]
On 9 March 2010,Dulmatin, a senior figure in the militant groupJemaah Islamiyah (JI) and one of the most wanted terrorists in Southeast Asia was killed in a police raid inPamulang, South Tangerang byDetachment 88.[64]
In May 2018, The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government agreed to ratify the draft revision of Law Number 15 of 2013 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism (the Anti-terrorism Bill) into law.[65] Previously, police have to wait for members of the suspected terror organisation to commit terrorism, in order to arrest them. The new anti-terrorism law gave the government the authority to identify and submit an organisation as a terrorist organisation to the court. In this new law, the membership to a terrorist cells or terrorist organisation groups, that have been established by the court, is enough to arrest and persecute a terrorist suspect, thus enabled the authority to perform preemptive measures prior to the terrorist attacks. Since then, the JAD (Jamaah Ansharut Daulah), JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), has been submitted as active terrorist groups in Indonesia, which membership to either of these organization will be prosecuted immediately by Indonesian law.[66]
| Date | Prov. | Location | Deaths | Injuries | Type | Perpetrator | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 March 1981 | across provinces and countries | Garuda Indonesia Flight 206 | 6 | 2 | Hijacking | Commando Jihad | -- Airports & airlines
|
| 21 January 1985 | Borobudur | 0 | 0 | Improvised explosive device | Husein Ali Al Habsyie | -- Religious figures & institutions
See also:1985 Borobudur bombing | |
| 15 March 1985 | Banyuwangi | 7 | 14 | Improvised explosive device | Mochammad Achwan | -- Transport
| |
| 19 April 1999 | Merdeka Square | 0 | 4 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Religious figures & institutions | |
| 1 August 2000 | Menteng | 2 | 21 | Car bomb | - | -- Diplomatic
See also:2000 Philippine consulate bombing | |
| 14 September 2000 | South Jakarta | 15 | 27 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Business
See also:Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing | |
| 24 December 2000 | Sukabumi | 3 | 20 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
| |
| 24 December 2000 | Bandung | 4 | 2 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions | |
| 24 December 2000 | Jakarta | 4 | 18 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
| |
| 24 December 2000 | Pekanbaru | 5 | 8 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Religious figures & institutions
| |
| 10 May 2001 | Setiabudi | 2 | 2 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Government institutions
| |
| 22 July 2001 | Duren Sawit | 0 | 43 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Religious figures & institutions
| |
| 3 April 2002 | Ambon City | 4 | 58 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property[77] | |
| 5 June 2002 | Poso | 5 | 17 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport[78][79] See also:2002 Poso bus attacks | |
| 12 July 2002 | Poso | 1 | 5 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport[78] See also:2002 Poso bus attacks | |
| 8 August 2002 | Poso | 1 | 4 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport See also:2002 Poso bus attacks | |
| 4 September 2002 | Ambon City | 4 | - | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property
| |
| 12 October 2002 | Kuta Beach | 202 | 250+ | Truck bomb &suicide bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
See also:2002 Bali bombings | |
| 5 December 2002 | Makassar | 3 | 15 | Suicide bombing | Laskar Jundullah Islamic Militia | -- Private citizens & property
See also:2002 Makassar bombing | |
| 26 April 2003 | Soekarno–Hatta International Airport | 0 | 11 | Improvised explosive device | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property
| |
| 5 August 2003 | Setiabudi | 12 | 150 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
See also:2003 Marriott Hotel bombing | |
| 31 December 2003 | Peureulak | 10 | 45 | Improvised explosive device | -- Private citizens & property
See also:2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing | ||
| 10 January 2004 | Palopo | 4 | 3 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property See also:2004 Palopo cafe bombing | |
| 9 September 2004 | Setiabudi | 9 | 150 | Car bomb | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Diplomatic
| |
| 13 November 2004 | Poso | 6 | 3 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Transport
See also:2004 Poso bus bombing | |
| 28 May 2005 | Tentena | 22 | 90 | Improvised explosive device | - | -- Private citizens & property
See also:2005 Tentena market bombings | |
| 1 October 2005 | Kuta Beach &Jimbaran | 23 | 100 | Suicide bombing | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
See also:2005 Bali bombings | |
| 31 December 2005 | Palu | 8 | 53 | Nail bomb | -- Private citizens & property
See also:2005 Palu market bombing | ||
| 17 July 2009 | Setiabudi | 9 | 53 | Suicide bombing | Jemaah Islamiyah | -- Private citizens & property (foreign tourists)
See also:2009 Jakarta bombings | |
| 15 April 2011 | Cirebon | 1 | 26 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Government institution
See also:2011 Cirebon bombing | |
| 25 September 2011 | Solo | 1 | 14 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Religious figures & institutions | |
| 16 October 2012 | Poso | 2 | 0 | Small arms fire | - | -- Government institution
| |
| 2 June 2013 | Poso | 1 | 1 | Suicide bombing | - | -- Government institution[96] | |
| 14 January 2016 | Central Jakarta | 5 | 24 | Suicide bombing, multiple explosions andshooting spree | ISIL | -- Government institution (police) andexpatriates
See also:2016 Jakarta attacks | |
| 24 May 2017 | East Jakarta | 5 | 11 | Suicide bombings | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
See also:2017 Jakarta bombings | |
| 25 June 2017 | Medan | 1 | 1 | Stabbing | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
| |
| 23 June 2017 | South Jakarta | 1 | 2 | Stabbing | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
| |
| 8 to 10 May 2018 | Depok | 6 | 4 | Terrorist prison standoff | ISIL | -- Government institution (police)
See also:2018 Mako Brimob standoff | |
| 13 May 2018 | Surabaya | 28 | 40 | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Religious figures & institutions
See also:2018 Surabaya bombings | |
| 13 May 2018 | Surabaya | 3 | 0 | Suicide bombings | - | -- Private citizens & property
See also:2018 Surabaya bombings | |
| 14 May 2018 | Surabaya | 10 | TBC | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
See also:2018 Surabaya bombings | |
| 16 May 2018 | Riau | 5 | 2 | Vehicular attack, stabbing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
| |
| 5 July 2018 | Bangil | 0 | 1 | Improvised explosive device | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Private citizens & property | |
| 10 October 2019 | Menes,Pandeglang, Banten | 0 | 1 | Stabbing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government official (minister)
| |
| 13 November 2019 | Medan | 1 | 6 | Suicide bombings | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
See also:2019 Medan suicide bombing | |
| 28 March 2021 | Makassar | 2 | 20 | Suicide bombing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Religious figures & institution
See also:2021 Makassar cathedral bombing | |
| 31 March 2021 | South Jakarta | 1 | 0 | Shooting | ISIL | -- Government institution (police) | |
| 7 December 2022 | Astana Anyar,Bandung | 2 | 11 | Suicide bombing | Jamaah Ansharut Daulah | -- Government institution (police)
See also:Astana Anyar bombing | |
| 7 November 2025 | Kelapa Gading,Jakarta | 0 | 97 | School bombing | Neo-Nazi | -- Education institution
See also:Jakarta school bombing |