Islamic State leader Adnani issues new order to attack Westerners

Abu Muhammad Al Adnani has issued more orders for followers to kill Westerners, circulated in Indonesia amid tighter security in Bali.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani appearing in a 2012 video uploaded to YouTube. Picture: AFP

Islamic State spokesman and senior leader Sheikh Abu Muhammad Al Adnani has for the second time ordered followers to viciously attack and kill unbelievers, or infidels, in the West.

Circulated in Indonesia yesterday on an Islamic State social media forum, the threats have been confirmed by the deputy head of enforcement at the national counter-terrorism agency BNPT, Arief Dharmawan.

“Of course, we are taking the threats very seriously,” he told The Australian today.

”We are reminding the government to undertake prevention by militants,’’ he said, also referring to Bali’s intensified security levels.

Badrus Sholeh, head of Jakarta’s international relations, social and political sciences at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, said Adnani’s instructions were issued on the BlackBerry Messenger app used by Islamic State members in Indonesia.

”It is a provocative statement from the IS spokesman for IS members all over the world to attack and kill disbelievers,” he said.

Adnani, the emir of IS in Syria, delivered similar orders in September last year and the US State Department announced in May a $US5 million reward for his capture or for information leading to his capture.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani appearing in a 2012 video uploaded to YouTube. Picture: AFP

Fauzan al-Anshori, an Islamic State recruiter and former acolyte of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, circulated the instructions through the IS Indonesia contact group.

They say: “Mujahidin, wherever you are… place obstacles on those who want to harm the brothers and your State, as much as you can. Seek the best thing that you can and kill the infidels, whether they are French, American, or some of their allies.

“O you who believe! Take your precautions, and either go forth (on an expedition) in parties, or go forth all together.’ (An-Nisa’: 71)

‘’If you cannot find an IED (improvised explosive device) or a bullet to kill infidel Americans, French or one of their allies then beat their heads with a stone, or slaughter them with a knife, or crash their cars, or throw them from a high place, or choke them, or poison them!

“I would not survive if the worshippers of the cross and defenders of Evil survived.

‘’If you are unable to do this, then burn their houses or their cars or business or destroy their crops!

‘’If you are unable to do this, then spit on their face!

‘’If you refuse to do this, while our brothers are being bombarded and killed, and while their blood and their possessions are destroyed everywhere, then review your religion. Then you are in a dangerous situation.’’

The message comes three days after Indonesia’s most notorious terrorist used an Islamic State forum on social media to threaten attacks on government officials.

Banten police commander Boy Rafli confirmed that warning by Abu Wardah, aka Santoso, the leader of jihadist group Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen.

The flag used by the Islamic State group.

He said in an audio message: “We are the soldiers of Dawlah Islam (Islamic State), who deliver you reminders.

“Believers or non believers, like it or not, willingly or not, the Black pennant, with the permission of Allah will fly at the Presidential Palace.”

Fauzan al-Anshori also circulated that warning via an Islamic State Indonesia group discussion on the BlackBerry Messenger app.

Brigadier General Rafli said security and intelligence were being escalated across the country as a precaution, and the social media posting was being investigated.

Indonesian police yesterday issued a statement on national television saying 100 Indonesians had returned from Syria.

Police already have a list of 40 Syrian returnees and about 700 are known to be in the Middle East aligned to either Islamic State or the al-Qa’ida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra.

Bali police have escalated security across the island with bomb squads, military, police dog squads and counter-terror squad Detachment 88 patrolling perceived vulnerable points.

Of highest significance and concentration are Bali’s international Ngurah Rai Airport, Padang Bay — the port crossing to the neighbouring island of Lombok — and Gilimanuk harbour, where security patrols are monitoring the heavy traffic between Bali and Java. Security has also been tightened around diplomatic missions.

Despite the alerts, Inspector-General Dharmawan said the high security was a preparatory measure in the event of a Paris or Egypt militant attack. ‘’They have standard operation procedures to protect the airport, sea ports etc,’’ he said.

Bali Police spokesman Hery Wiyanto today denied threats of terror attacks, saying the heightened security levels were precautionary.

“We don’t have any threats, but we are anticipating them after the Paris attacks, and we are working with the national intelligence agency,” he said.

“About 100 Indonesia alumni from ISIS have returned to the country. We are co-ordinating with the special squad Densus 88 to learn their names and get photographs of them.

“We ask the people of Bali to be aware and report to us any suspicious activities. Also as a prevention we have put in place checkpoints and patrols.

“We have tightened security from Padang Bay, Gilimanuk harbour and the airport. ‘’

Police were also co-ordinating with hotels, restaurants and tourism agencies, he said.