Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta Metropolitan police suspect that the alleged terrorists arrested in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, in the Banten province, West Java, were fund collectors.

"We suspect that they are members of a `fai` (fund collecting) group," command spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said here on Monday.

He said the group directs robberies of other religious followers to collect funds for their terrorist activities.

Rikwanto said the police had not yet been able to confirm this and are still in the process of tracing their network.

The police shot to death two suspected terrorists, known as D and ES, in Pondok Aren early on the morning of March 30.

They also arrested two suspects, Tedi in Sukabumi, West Java, and KR in Ciledug, Banten.

Further, the police confiscated from the suspects a revolver, a machete, aluminium bomb materials, a manual on bank robbery, a book about metaphysical science practitioners, a practical encyclopaedia for female Muslims, as well as a box of items belonging to the occupant of a boarding house.

Rikwanto also said police believe that the suspects were involved in attacking two police officers of the Setu station in Bekasi, West Java, when they were caught during a robbery on March 26. The two police officers suffered serious injuries. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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