Indonesia suspected militant accused of beheadings is killed in police crackdown
- Ahmad Gazali, a key member of the East Indonesia Mujahideen network, was shot by military and police officers as part of a sweeping counterterrorism campaign
- Police say Gazali conducted several executions as the group claimed responsibility for killing police officers and minority Christians
Indonesian security forces killed a suspected militant accused of beheadings in a shoot-out on Tuesday that was part of a sweeping counterterrorism campaign against extremists in remote mountain jungles, police said.
Provincial police chief Rudy Sufahriadi said Ahmad Gazali, 27, also known as Ahmad Panjang, a key member of the East Indonesia mujahideen network, was fatally shot by a joint team of military and police officers near Uempasa hamlet in Central Sulawesi province’s mountainous Parigi Moutong district. It borders Poso district, an extremist hotbed in the province.
The East Indonesia mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the killings of police officers and minority Christians, some by beheading. It has pledged allegiance to Islamic State group.
Police have said Gazali conducted several of the group’s executions, including the beheadings of four Christian farmers last May.
The joint team was patrolling the area when it came upon two militants in a camp, Sufahriadi said at a news conference. He said the second militant escaped into the jungle.
Tuesday’s shoot-out occurred four months after security forces killed two militants in another jungle shoot-out, including Ali Kalora, the group’s leader, who was one of the country’s most wanted militants.
“We are still searching for three remaining suspected members of the group,” Sufahriadi said, “We urge them to immediately surrender or we’ll continue hunting them down.”