Jakarta Police Chief to Lead Indonesia’s Counter-Terror Agency

Jakaarta, 06 Jumadil Akhir 1437/16 March 2016 (MINA) – Inspector General Tito Karnavian – the current Jakarta Police Chief – has been appointed by the Indonesian National Police to head the country’s national counter-terrorism agency, BNPT.

The appointment and promotion of General Tito, regarded as the country’s most experienced and decorated counter-terrorism officer, signalled Indonesia’s seriousness in tackling a new wave of threats posed by Islamic State members in the country, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting CNA.

He will replace Commisioner General Saud Nasution at the agency, which is tasked to lead Indonesia’s multi-pronged approach to tackling terrorism.

As Jakarta’s Police Chief, General Tito has been credited for the swift actions by the police following the Jakarta bomb attacks in January.

He helped identify the IS-linked networks responsible and arrested more than 40 people.

During his previous stint as head of the counter-terrorism unit, General Tito hunted down known terrorists such as Dr Azhari and Nordin Mohamad Top, who were responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people.

He obtained his doctoral degree from the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s National Technological University. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)