World

US brands pro-Islamic State Indonesian group "terrorists"

JAD is an umbrella organisation that Indonesian authorities estimate includes hundreds of Islamic State sympathisers

Reuters January 11, 2017

the state department said in a statement on tuesday that jamaah ansharut daulah jad was a quot specially designated global terrorist quot organisation photo reuters

The State Department said in a statement on Tuesday that Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) was a "specially designated global terrorist" organisation PHOTO: REUTERS

JAKARTA: The United States named Indonesia's most prominent pro-Islamic State group a "terrorist" organisation, imposing sanctions on the hundreds-strong network including freezing its US assets.

Indonesian militants planned New Year's assault with machetes

The State Department said in a statement on Tuesday that Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) was a "specially designated global terrorist" organisation, effectively allowing US authorities to block its funding and banning Americans from engaging with the group.

JAD is an umbrella organisation that Indonesian authorities estimate includes hundreds of Islamic State sympathisers across the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. JAD members have in recent months been arrested for possession of explosives and for planning suicide bombings in and around the capital Jakarta.

Pakistan next Islamic State target, warns Qadri

Indonesia has been on edge amid a recent resurgence in home-grown militancy that has been inspired in part by Islamic State.