Jakarta. The Indonesian police have uncovered an organized attempt by an ISIS-linked militant network to recruit children online over the past year, officials announced on Tuesday.

According to Mayndra Eka Wardhana, spokesperson for the National Police’s counter-terrorism unit Detachment 88, the group targeted minors by framing ideological choices in provocative terms -- encouraging them to decide whether the state ideology Pancasila or the Quran should be considered “superior.”

“This should serve as a warning for all of us to take prevention more seriously,” Mayndra told reporters in Jakarta.

Police have so far arrested five suspects aged 18 to 47 on allegations of recruiting minors into militant activity. Several are repeat offenders previously convicted in terrorism cases.

“There are former players who attempted to recruit children again after completing their prison sentences,” Mayndra said.

National Police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said investigators have identified 110 children between the ages of 10 and 18 who were targeted across 23 provinces.

Recruitment was carried out through social media, online games, and encrypted messaging apps, which allowed offenders to approach minors discreetly and gradually expose them to radical content.

“The suspects attempted to radicalize the children, encourage them to join terrorist organizations, and prepare them to commit acts of terror,” Trunoyudo stated.

To curb similar cases in the future, police recommended tighter supervision of children’s use of social media and online platforms.

Authorities say monitoring digital spaces, improving digital literacy, and increasing collaboration between families, schools, and law enforcement will be key to preventing extremist networks from exploiting minors.

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