Densus-88 Polri

Detasemen Khusus-88 / Anti Teror Polri
88-Special Detachment / Anti-Terror

The establishment of 88-Special Detachment / Anti Terror (Densus-88) is an effort from the Indonesian government and Indonesian Police (Polri) to fight against terrorism action that has been more globalize. Indonesia as a country with over 200 billion people and the biggest moslem country in the world not escaped from attack by terrorism network. The bombing suicide mission has been successfully execute three massive attacks on Bali in 2003, Marriot Hotel in 2003, and Australian embassy in 2004.

Based in this, US and Australia government giving support to the Polri to build special unit that focus on anti-terror. In 2002, US government gives 12 billion dollar for the first phase and 6 until 12 billion in the second phase on 2005.

The purpose of this fund support is to build independent anti-terror team belong to Polri that can finished all the terrorism act, begins from bombing, hostage rescue, quick reaction ability until armed assault. In early plan, Densus-88 will fully operate in 2005 with around 400 personnel. For the future, Densus-88 will have unit in every Police Area Command (Polda) in all Indonesia provinces. Before that, Densus-88 also has a unit in Police Headquartered level as a center of police anti-terror network in Indonesia.

The specific anti-terror ability that this unit have is they work with police standard procedure begins from early action, gathering intelligence information until taking final action like executing and capturing the terrorism suspect dead or alive. These units also cooperate with other intelligence unit in State Intelligence Board (BIN) and also collect information from the local citizens. These detachments have three team that is investigation, intelligence and assault team.

Densus-88 training held in Megamendung, West Java in Police Criminal and Resersir Training Center. In this area build new training facilities from US fund. That facilities include firing range, knockdown house, classroom and other building fully equip with tools to do various training method. Personnel of Densus-88 that train there, at least need 30.000 bullets along training period.