Indonesia blocks radical websites after Jakarta attack

Indonesia shut down at least 11 radical websites and several social media accounts on Saturday after a deadly gun and bomb attack claimed by Daesh rocked the capital earlier in the week, the Jakarta Globe reported Saturday.

Authorities said several accounts had been found on social networking website Facebook expressing support for Thursday's attack in Jakarta's commercial district, which killed seven people including five militants and injured around 30 others.

"We are monitoring many websites and public complaints about this," said Ismail Cawidu, a public relations official at the communications ministry.

The government had also sent letters to social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Telegram requesting that radical material be immediately blocked or taken down, Cawidu said.

Authorities believe there are up to 1,000 Daesh sympathizers in Indonesia.

The alleged mastermind behind this week's attack, an Indonesian citizen fighting with Daesh in Syria, is believed to have used social media extensively to share his beliefs about Daesh and communicate with contacts in Indonesia using blog posts and mobile messaging apps.

Source: MENA