Jakarta. The man who allegedly attacked Chief Security Minister Wiranto with a sharp object in Pandeglang, Banten, on Thursday is believed to be a member of Islamic State-affiliated Jemaah Ansharut Daulah, according to the country's top intelligence official.

Police have arrested 31-year-old Syahril Alamsyah, alias Abu Rara, who allegedly carried out the attack, and a female suspect named Fitri Andriana, 21, who was also present at the scene.

"We were able to identify the two perpetrators as members of JAD in Bekasi [West Java]. Abu Rara used to be a member of JAD in Kediri [East Java]. We detected him when he moved to Bogor [West Java]. After divorcing his first wife, he moved to Menes [in Pandeglang]," Budi Gunawan, head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), told reporters at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, where Wiranto was admitted after the attack.

Budi said the suspect's move to Menes was facilitated by Abu Samsudin, another JAD member.

"From the beginning, we detected that the JAD group intended to create instability and carry out amaliah]," Budi said, referring to the Arabic word for operation.

The police general said it was very difficult to tackle the group, as its members were dispersed into separate cells in many parts of the country.

"It is comprised of smaller cells; each has individual members. We need support from all members of society to keep an eye on them," Budi said.

Married

Banten Police chief Insp. Gen. Tomsi Tohir said separately that the suspects were a married couple.

They were waiting for Wiranto at an open field in Purwaraja village with modified weapons they had prepared in advance.

"They are in custody and an investigation is underway," Tomsi said.

Syahril, from Medan, North Sumatra, and Fitri, from Brebes, Central Java, are residents of a nearby village.

Tomsi said security had been arranged in accordance with standard procedures, but that the police could not prevent the minister from interacting with the public. He added that Wiranto had insisted on face-to-face meetings with members of the public.

"Security had been arranged, but he was intent on greeting the waiting crowd. On his return, we also provided security, but he wanted to meet them, because there were many school children; some wanted to shake hands with him," the officer said.

The suspects managed to approach Wiranto and launch the attack. The local police chief and a civilian were also injured in the incident.

Wiranto was reportedly in a stable condition when he arrived at Berkah District Hospital in Pandeglang with a wound to the abdomen.

"His blood pressure and pulse were normal, meaning that he did not suffer internal bleeding," Firmansyah, the hospital director, told reporters.

Wiranto was then flown to Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, where he underwent surgery.

The attack came just 10 days before the inauguration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for a second term.

Wiranto repeatedly said there were attempts to foil the Oct. 20 presidential inauguration, pointing to nationwide rallies against the controversial amendment of the Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which turned violent in many parts of the country.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian announced in May that Wiranto was among four senior state officials targeted for assassination by militants. The other three were Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, BIN chief Budi Gunawan and Gregorius "Gories" Mere, a former commander of Detachment 88, the National Police's elite anti-terrorism unit.

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