Radical, linked to terrorists stabs Wiranto

JAKARTA, Oct 10  -- The suspect who stabbed Indonesian minister, Wiranto, was believed to be a radical and linked to a terrorist network, said Indonesian Police.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who was quoted by local media, wanted the Indonesian police and military to find and take stern action against the network of the perpetrator, other than directing a tighter protection of his cabinet ministers.

Indonesian Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto was hurt after he was stabbed, just after alighting from his car to attend an event in Banten, by a male suspect, on the pretext of shaking Wiranto’s hands.

Wiranto, 72, was now receiving further treatment and undergoing a surgery at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Jakarta.

“I have ordered the police and military to investigate fully and take stringent action against the terrorist and radical groups linked to the incident,’’ said Jokowi as picked by the Antara News Agency.

Jokowi also visited Wiranto at RSPAD, while Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla who also visited Wiranto, said the former Indonesian National Armed Forces Chief was now in a stable condition.

The Indonesian police, in a statement, said that the two suspects detained, namely, Syahril Alamsyah, 31, and Fitri Andriana Sunarto, 21, were husband-and-wife.

The suspect who stabbed Wiranto, namely, Syahril, was from Medan, Sumatera, and the Indonesian police were ransacking his house in Medan, while his wife was from Pandeglang.

In the incident, two others including a policeman and a member of the public were also injured by a scissor wielded by the suspect.

Wiranto was rushed to the Menes Medical Centre di Pandeglang for early treatment before he was transferred to the Pandeglang District General Hospital for further treatment before being airlifted by helicopter to RSPAD, Jakarta.

-- BERNAMA