Panic arose in Bandung (West Java) after a low-explosive, homemade bomb exploded on Monday morning (27/02) around 09:00 am local time near Pandawa Park in Cicendo. Indonesian police said there were no casualties. The man who allegedly detonated the bomb fled to an urban community office building before being shot by police about two hours after the explosion (and rushed to a local hospital where he is currently being treated). A second suspect, a woman, fled on a motorcycle. Police is still looking for her.

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Tito Karniavan, Chief of Indonesia's National Police, said a total of 33 (alleged) Muslim terrorists were killed in Indonesia in full-year 2016, a steep increase from the seven Islamic militants that were killed in the preceding year. These alleged terrorists died when they resisted security forces during their arrest. These actions also led to the death of one police officer as well as 11 wounded officers this year. Meanwhile, the number of terror crime cases rose to 170 in full-year 2016, more than doubling from 82 cases in 2015.

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Indonesia's special counter-terrorism force Densus 88 killed three alleged terrorists in a shooting just outside the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta on Wednesday morning (21/12). Meanwhile, Densus 88 arrested another man and discovered a cache of bombs, presumably intended to be used for suicide bombings during Christmas celebrations. The shooting - and discovery of the bombs - took place at two rented houses at a housing complex in South Tangerang (Banten Province) some 25 kilometers outside Jakarta.

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Indonesia's counter-terrorism squad Densus 88 allegedly prevented a terrorist attack aimed at "vital locations in Central Jakarta" (possibly including the State Palace) on this week's car free Sunday (11/12). On Saturday (10/12) Densus 88 arrested four people, including one woman who, allegedly, was to detonate the suicide bomb. Densus 88 are still looking for two more suspects. Authorities are concerned that in Muslim-majority Indonesia there is an increasing amount of small terrorist cells that are influenced by Islamic State (IS).

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Foreigners are advised to stay clear of the "anti-Ahok" demonstration that is scheduled for Friday (04/11) in Central Jakarta as Islamic State-inspired terrorist cells may take advantage of the rally. The Jakarta police department will deploy about 7,000 personnel to safeguard security during the rally. However, this actually presents an opportunity for radical Muslims to launch attacks on Indonesian security officers. In the anti-Ahok rally, thousands of Muslims will express their anger toward incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

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Indonesian Police killed two Islamic militants during a shootout in a the jungle on Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Monday evening (18/07). Reportedly - but not confirmed yet by authorities - one of these militants is Indonesia's most wanted Islamic militant Abu "Santoso" Wardah, an Islamic State supporter and leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist cells. This group's "headquarters" are believed to be located in the jungle surrounding Poso (Central Sulawesi).

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Mitra Adiperkasa, the retail company that holds the license to operate Starbucks in Indonesia, said its corporate performance will not be too much affected by the terrorist attacks in Jakarta. The company's Starbucks branch located at Jalan MH Thamrin No. 9 in Central Jakarta was target of Muslim militants on Thursday (14/01). After the attacks Mitra Adiperkasa closed all its Starbucks branches in Jakarta for the day. On Friday (15/01) the branches reopened with the exception of the Thamrin branch that was heavily damaged by the terrorist actions.

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Early in the morning of Friday (15/01), Indonesia's counter terrorism squad (known as Densus 88) arrested three people in connection with the terrorist attacks that occurred in Central Jakarta on Thursday. The attacks yesterday led to seven casualties (two civilians and five terrorists) as well as more than 20 injured people. Today's arrests were made in Depok, located not far from Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta.

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Several people, five terrorists and two civilians, have been killed in a series of multiple explosions and gunfire in the center of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta. Around 10:50 am local Jakarta time the first explosion occurred near the Sarinah department store on Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta. Previously Indonesian authorities had already received a threat from Islamic State that the country would be in the spotlight of this terrorist organization. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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Sutiyoso, Director of Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency (BIN), said authorities will closely monitor those Indonesians that return home after having joined the militant Islamic State in Syria. It is estimated that more than 100 Indonesians have traveled back to the Archipelago from Syria after having fought alongside the militant organization. Meanwhile, Indonesian policy is investigating a video that has been circulating on social media. This video displays a local terrorist group threatening to attack Indonesia's State Palace and Jakarta Policy headquarters.

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On Tuesday (15/08) Indonesian Police arrested five suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathizers. Meanwhile, various bomb making chemicals were seized in the houses of the five suspected Islamic militants. The arrests and confiscation of materials occurred in the city of Bandung (West Java). The five arrests involve one married couple and three men.

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Despite the suicide bombs attack in Jakarta on Wednesday evening (24/05) that killed 3 police officers (and the two militants) at a Jakarta bus station, the Jakarta Composite Index rose after opening on Friday (26/05), while the rupiah only weakened slightly against the US dollar (Thursday was a public holiday). It is yet another example of the fact that markets around the globe have become used to the existence of militant attacks. Particularly a relatively small attack will not lead to any negative sentiments.

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At the G20 summit in Hangzhou (China) Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged the leaders of the 20 strongest economies, in particular leaders of the advanced economies, to curb protectionist measures (tariff and non-tariff barriers) as these measures entail negative consequences for emerging markets. Trade could be the engine of international economic growth. Protectionism, however, undermines the flow of trade and therefore blocks accelerated economic growth. Widodo made this statement on Monday (05/09) at the third session of the G20 summit in Hangzhou's International Expo Center.

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The 17-year-old Ivan Armadi who tried to kill a Catholic priest and detonate a self-made bomb during the Sunday service (28/08) in a church in Medan (North Sumatra) is one example of the Islamic State sympathizers that are present in Indonesia. Although the police investigation indicates that there are no direct links between Armadi and existing militant networks within Indonesia or abroad, the case shows that there are so-called "lone-wolves" in Indonesia who are inspired by radical Islamic doctrine and can learn to make bombs from the Internet.

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In an update on Thursday (25/02) Australian authorities advised the public to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia as recent indications suggest that Islamic militants may be in an advanced stage of preparing violent attacks in Indonesia. Australia warns about possible terrorist attacks throughout Indonesia (including Bali and Jakarta) and it specifically discourages journeys to Central Sulawesi, Papua and West Papua. On Thursday 14 January 2016 Islamic militants engaged in attacks in Central Jakarta, resulting in eight casualties (including the four terrorists).

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The total number of foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia in 2014 was 9.44 million, up 7.19 percent from the preceding year, meaning that the government target of welcoming 9.3 million foreign tourists last year was achieved. As usual, most foreign tourists entered Indonesia through the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, the most famous tourist destination in the world’s largest archipelago. During the whole year of 2014 a total of 3.71 million foreigners spent some time on Bali.

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Tourism in Indonesia has posted impressive growth rates in recent years. This development is due to the fact that Indonesia has plenty of beautiful sites and cultural traditions to offer to foreign (and domestic) tourists, improved airline accessibility to Indonesia, and enhanced focus on promotional campaigns in foreign countries. Lastly, and not unimportantly, there have been no violent terrorist attacks in recent years. In the 2000s, a vicious terrorist attack always resulted in a temporary drop in foreign tourist arrivals.

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Whenever the topic of tourism in Indonesia is touched upon, most people will instantly think of Bali. This small but famous island harbors all sorts of entertainment that will appeal to various segments of international tourism: beautiful landscapes, Balinese Hinduism, lively nightclubs, beaches and more. But apart from Bali - and despite the fact that Indonesia has much to offer on other islands - the country has disappointed in attracting a large amount of foreign tourists so far.

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Last Thursday night, a Nigerian drug dealer, imprisoned since 2004, was executed by firing squad near Kepulauan Seribu to the north of Jakarta's coast. This execution is the first since the execution of three Islamic radicals (who were involved in the 2002 Bali bombings) in 2008. Meanwhile, on Friday morning, counter-terrorism squad Densus 88 killed three suspected Muslim militants that robbed a jewelry store in Tambora, West Jakarta.

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