Indonesian police shoot dead two suspected militants

SURABAYA: Police shot dead two terrorist suspects armed with a homemade bomb Monday and arrested another two as the country continues to battle militant activity, officials said.

Counter-terrorism chief Ansyaad Mbai said the men were part of a violent group and were shot as the anti-terror police unit Detachment 88 conducted a raid on the street in an East Java town.

"Detachment 88 had sought the men over a recent attempted suicide bombing and a case of hacking to fund militant activities," Mbai told.

The police squad ambushed the men as they waited for public transport in Tulungagung district, national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said.

One of those killed, identified as Dayah, "took out a weapon and began firing at the squad, which led to a gunfight", Amar told reporters.

"Two suspects died and the other two surrendered and were arrested," Amar said.

The other suspect shot dead was identified only as Rijal.

Police seized a revolver and a bag containing a homemade bomb.

Mbai connected the men to an attempted suicide bombing in June on a police compound in Poso -- a district on Sulawesi island known for militant activity.

The bomber blew himself up, only injuring a construction worker.

It was the first suicide attack in Indonesia since September 2011, when a bomber injured dozens in an attack on a Central Java church.