A TERROR plot to kill Pope Francis has been uncovered with Indonesian cops swooping on seven suspects believed to be ISIS-inspired.
The foiled ploy targeted the Pope during his visit to Indonesia, where he started a 12-day tour of the Asia Pacific.
The suspects were arrested across September 2 and 3 after cops were tipped off by concerned citizens.
Cops raided one of the alleged militant’s houses to find bow and arrows, a drone and ISIS leaflets, according to The Straits Times.
The wannabe terrorists were apparently angered by the Pope popping into a Jakarta mosque.
Indonesian TV stations were reportedly asked not to broadcast the usual Islamic call to prayer while they showed Pope Francis’ visit, enraging the alleged maniac Jihadis.
The suspects have been named only as HFP, LB, DF, FA, HS, ER and RS.
It’s not yet clear whether they were all linked to one another.
A spokesman for Indonesia’s terror-crushing unit “Densus 88” – or Detachment 88 – said threats were aired on social media.
Colonel Aswin Siregar said: “We have a mechanism to monitor and filter.
“We had tip-off information from members of the public.
“Densus 88 has taken legal action against seven individuals … who made threats in the form of propaganda or terror threats via social media in response to the Pope’s arrival.
“There was also a threat to set fire to the locations.”
Over his 12-day tour, the 87-year-old Catholic Church leader is visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
He uses a wheelchair after suffering health issues over the last few years.
Speaking at the presidential palace in Jakarta earlier this week, he slammed religious extremism.
He said: “There are times when faith can be manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred.
He added religious differences ought to be talked out, saying: “Prejudices can be eliminated, and a climate of mutual respect and trust can grow.”
Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, has grappled with terrorism for decades.
It burned during the infamous bombings on holiday hotspot Bali in 2002 and suffered attacks on Jakarta hotels in 2009.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/12393288/terror-plot-to-kill-pope-francis/