Two Indonesian pilots pose security threat after being radicalised by Islamic State, leaked report alleges
Indonesian pilots thought to be employees of AirAsia and Premiair believed to have been radicalised, according to Australian report
PUBLISHED : Friday, 10 July, 2015, 11:03am
UPDATED : Friday, 10 July, 2015, 11:21am
Agence France-Presse in Sydney
AFP concluded both posed a risk to security as they were allegedly being influenced online by 'radical elements'. Pictured left is Tommy Abu Alfatih (left). A second pilot, Ridwan Agustin (right), used to work for AirAsia and also appears to have been radicalised. Photos: Facebook
Australian authorities believe two Indonesian pilots may pose a security threat after being radicalised by the Islamic State, a leaked intelligence document obtained by an investigative website shows.
The Australian Federal Police "Operational Intelligence Report", published by investigative website The Intercept, said the pilots were "likely employees" of Malaysia-based AirAsia and Premiair, which is based in Indonesia, and came to their attention through their Facebook pages.
It said "support to the Islamic State (IS)" group could be "inferred" from their postings.
"Upon review of the content from both accounts it is assessed that these persons are likely being influenced by radical elements - at least from the online environment - and as a result, may pose a security threat," it said.
In a statement, the federal police would not comment on whether the document, entitled "Identification of Indonesian pilots with possible extremist persuasions" and dated March 18 this year, was genuine.
"The Australian Federal Police does not comment on matters of intelligence," it said.
"The Australian Federal Police maintains strong relationships with its domestic and foreign law enforcement partners to ensure the ongoing safety of Australians both within Australia and abroad."
The AirAsia pilot graduated from its academy in 2010, the document said, and flew international routes including to Hong Kong and Singapore.
It said a change in his Facebook posting style became evident in September last year "wherein he started posting material indicative of support to IS".
Around this time, he began interacting online with a second pilot, said to be a former Indonesian navy pilot who now works for Premiair, who "liked" his postings on IS.
This pilot had flown to Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, the intelligence report claimed, with recent reposts on Facebook including "extremist related articles".
"Both appear to be influenced by pro-IS elements, including extremist online propaganda by well-known radical Indonesia outlets and a suspected Indonesian terrorist fighter who is likely to be in either Syria or Iraq," the police report concluded.
The Intercept said it was distributed to law enforcement agencies in Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Europe and the United States.
Comment was being sought from the low-cost carrier AirAsia and Premiair, which is a leading aviation services and aircraft management operator headquartered in Jakarta.
The Intercept has published the report online. The report identifies both men by name.
The AirAsia pilot, the report said, was married to an AirAsia employee who had also reposted material online from a radical pro-IS Indonesia group.
The pilot had begun wearing more conservative Islamic dress and grew a beard, it noted.
He "actively followed" pro-IS internet pages and on March 17, 2015, he listed his location as Raqqa, Syria, although the report said his current whereabouts were unknown.
The Premiair pilot was described as having a "strong nationalist perspective". In mid-2014 his postings were focused on the grievances of Muslims around the world, the report said, but by December he was posting pro-IS material.
