State news agency Antara reported that police on Tuesday discovered 24 bags of explosives at a rented house belonging in Talise, East Palu, Central Sulawesi. The 600 kilograms of South African-made ammonium nitrate was reportedly owned by Basir (34) and Ilham (35). The two men, both from Makassar, had been staying in the rented house for the past two months.
| "What'd you boys intend fertilizing with that 600 kilograms of boom stuff?" |
Central Sulawesi was hit by waves of deadly violence earlier this month, with masked gunmen killing 12 Christians in Morowali and Poso districts. In response to the violence, police have shot eight suspected attackers and arrested another eight. The attacks had raised concerns of a return to the Muslim-Christian violence that left about 1,000 people dead in Poso over 2000-2001 until a government-sponsored truce.
| The violence won't return if the coppers keep shooting the instigators... |
This week authorities replaced Poso district’s police chief and military commander. Senior Commissioner Abdi Dharma on Wednesday replaced Senior Commissioner Budi Astono as Poso Police chief. Central Sulawesi Police chief Brigadier General Taufiq Ridha ordered Dharma to immediately restore public order and security in Poso and Morowali. |