A Leaked AFP Report Concludes Two Indonesian Pilots Radicalised by ISIS are Now a Major Security Threat
New.com au, 11 July 2015
Islamic State: The terror threat on Australian shores
TWO Indonesian pilots believed to be lured by the Islamic State terror group risk posing a major global security threat, according to leaked AFP intelligence report.
The radicalisation of Ridwan Agustin and Tommy Abu Alfatih — who flew to Australia as recently as last year — is detailed in a report dated March 18 compiled by the AFP and obtained by US website The Intercept.
The document says there are fears the two men, who interacted on social media, could pose a terror threat after investigators examined their Facebook accounts.
“Both appear to be influenced by pro-ISIS elements including extremist online propaganda by well-known radical Indonesia outlets and a suspected foreign terrorist fighter who is likely to be either in Syria or Iraq,” the report, titled ‘Identification of Indonesian pilots with possible extremist persuasions’ concludes.
Global travel ... Tommy Abu Alfatih is pictured in front of the Sydney Opera House in August last year. Source: Facebook
While the current employment status of both men is unclear, the document says both Agustin and Abu Alfatih would still possess the skills to fly and have contacts in the aviation sector.
It warns that aviation workers have been actively urged by powerful terror groups to arrange attacks.
“Pilots, air crew and others with access to and within the aviation environment can pose obvious threats if these persons are radicalised,” the report says.
“Their access and knowledge of security and safety regimes provides the ability to attempt attacks as witnessed by past global events. It is noted that a recent edition of the al-Qaeda magazine Inspire actively encouraged attacks within the aviation environment.”
Ridwan Agustin before his image changed. Source: Facebook
A more recent image of Ridwan Agustin. Source: Facebook
The intelligence paper has reportedly been distributed among the AFP’s law enforcement counterparts including in Turkey, Jordan, London, the US and Europol.
The AFP would not confirm or deny the authenticity of the report when approached by News Corp Australia.
“The AFP does not comment on matters of intelligence,” a spokesperson said.
“The AFP maintains strong relationships with its domestic and foreign law enforcement partners to ensure the ongoing safety of Australians both within Australia and abroad.”
Agustin, a former AirAsia pilot, began showing signs of extremist influences in September last year by posting in support of IS on social media, interacting with foreign fighters including militant Heri Kustyanto and following pro-IS pages with graphic images of executions.
The report also draws on a progressive change to Agustin’s image “towards more conservative Islamic dress and (the) growing of facial hair”
Under investigation ... Abu Alfatih pictured in the ****pit of a plane. Source: Facebook
The report says he graduated from the AirAsia academy in 2010 and flew domestic and international routes.
Agustin, who is now believed to be using a different name on Facebook, expressed interest in joining IS forces in conflict zones.
On March 17, he posted his current location as Raqqa, Syria. The location of his wife Diah Suci Wulandari, who lists her last job as an air hostess at AirAsia, is unknown. Her Facebook page was removed this afternoon.
The second pilot, Mr Abu Alfatih, whose Facebook profile says he was employed by airline Premiair until June 1 and is in Indonesia, began posting in support of IS in December and liked several of Agustin’s posts relating to the terror group.
Prior to this, he posted many images of his worldwide travels “most likely as a pilot” including Australia.
The report says he began using extremist phrases, describing police as “ansharu thagut”, a term often used by jihadists “to describe police as helpers of the oppressive government”.
Agustin also uses the name Ridwan Ahmad Al Indonesia, while Abu Alfatih is also known as Tomi Hendratno.
Sidney Jones, the director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, told
The Intercept “it makes a lot of sense that the Australians would be extremely nervous” amid the upsurge in people turning to religious extremism.
She said the document suggested ISIS was now “recruiting skill sets, professional groups.”