Reuters Report on Indonesian Militants' Attempt to Build a 'Dirty Bomb'

Security sources have told Reuters that radical militants in Indonesia intended to detonate a bomb laced with radioactive materials. This action reflects the ambitions of these groups to cause destruction in the world's most populous Muslim country. Meanwhile, experts have expressed doubts about the technical capabilities, equipment, and chances of success of these groups. Informed sources say that this plot was discovered and neutralized after police raided several houses and arrested several individuals in Bandung, located in West Java. Following this operation, police referred to the plotters' plan to detonate a 'chemical' bomb but provided no evidence to support this. This conspiracy comes at a time when Indonesia is facing an influx of radical Islamists expelled from neighboring countries, and the siege of Marawi city in southern Philippines by militants affiliated with the 'Islamic State' has failed. Regional leaders and experts believe this incident has activated radical Islamist forces throughout the region. Three sources from Indonesia's anti-terrorism agencies, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the plotters intended to convert thorium-232, a substance with low radioactivity, into uranium-233, which is deadly. According to a guide published by radical Islamist groups, which Reuters reviewed, a 'dirty bomb' could be produced by combining enriched uranium with homemade explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP). This modification is used for a conventional bomb that disperses radioactive materials upon explosion. Reuters reports that a spokesperson for the Indonesian police, without confirming or denying such a plot to create a radioactive bomb, stated that this bomb could have been stronger than a bomb made from TATP that killed three police officers in Jakarta in May. Experts, referencing nuclear expertise websites, state that converting thorium-232 into uranium would typically require intense radiation that only a nuclear reactor can provide, but the radical groups' guide recommends using an X-ray machine or microwave instead. However, experts believe that an X-ray machine cannot perform this chemical process, and using a microwave would be extremely dangerous and lethal. A senior counter-terrorism official in Indonesia stated that the cell based in Bandung had attempted to concentrate thorium using various household items. However, Reuters prefers not to name the 'household items' used. This source added that 'they needed three weeks, and when the police raided their hideout, only a week had passed in this process.' Since eighteen months ago, small terrorist attacks have occurred in Indonesia, although police have managed to disrupt and neutralize many of them. Terrorism experts are concerned that the increase in terrorist activities in Indonesia may be influenced by events in Marawi, Philippines. Despite three months having passed since the Philippine armed forces' operations to retake Marawi city from Islamic State-affiliated militants, they still control parts of the city. Raikan Abidratta, a counter-terrorism expert, told Reuters that 'Indonesian radicals do not have the capability to seize a city like what happened in Marawi, Philippines; but they are trying to carry out a major operation to please their leaders.' The explosion of a bomb laced with radioactive materials could apparently have been a good option; however, Mr. Abidratta believes the cell based in Bandung 'lacked the capability, information, and equipment necessary for this task.' The majority of recent terrorist attacks in Indonesia have been carried out by members of a group affiliated with the 'Islamic State,' and experts believe that most attacks are directly directed by ISIS members who are Indonesian and currently stationed in Syria.