Jakarta. An employee of the Banda Aceh City Government has been arrested by the Indonesian National Police’s Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) Anti-Terror Unit for alleged links to a terrorist network.

The suspect, identified by the initials SA, 47, was arrested at a car showroom in the Batoh area of Banda Aceh. SA is currently employed at the city’s Tourism Office.

Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal confirmed the arrest, stating that the individual is an active civil servant.

"Yes, the person in question is indeed a civil servant of the Banda Aceh City Government, specifically assigned to the City Tourism Office," Illiza said in a written statement on Tuesday.

Illiza admitted she was shocked by the arrest but affirmed her support for the legal process.

“We did not expect any of our employees to be involved in a terrorist network. We must respect the legal process being carried out by the police. The city government fully supports the investigation and will await further developments,” she said.

SA was not the only individual arrested. Densus 88 also detained a second suspect, identified as MZ, 40, an employee of the Aceh Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. MZ was taken into custody at a coffee shop in Banda Aceh.

“There are two civil servants in Aceh who were detained by Densus 88 in connection with a terrorism case. The Aceh Regional Police only assisted with security during the searches,” said Joko Krisdiyanto, Head of Public Relations for the Aceh Regional Police.

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