Radical cleric Aman Abdurrahman was sentenced to death Friday by an Indonesian court for ordering 2016 terrorist attacks that included a suicide bombing at a Starbucks in the capital of Jakarta.
The attacks were carried out by Islamic State-affiliated militants. Four people were killed in the Starbucks bombing, the first attack claimed by IS in Southeast Asia.
Abdurrahman, who authorities describe as a key ideologue for IS militants in the world's largest Muslim nation, kneeled and kissed the floor as machine gun carrying counterterrorism guards stood nearby.
Fears of more attacks have escalated in Indonesia after suicide bombings in the city of Surabaya last month were carried out by families who sometimes involved their children. Police said the mastermind behind the attacks was associated with the network of militants inspired by Abdurrahman.
Prosecutors said Abdurrahman delivered instructions from prison, where he was serving a terrorism-related sentence, for several attacks in 2016 and 2017.
Abdurrahman refused to recognize the court as part of his rejection of Indonesia's secular government, in favor of Shariah law.
Militants could respond to Abdurrahman's death with retaliatory attacks, according to Adhe Bhakti, an analyst with the Center for Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies in Jakarta.
"His words alone have been able incite followers to carry out terrorism," Bhakti said. "The security forces must raise awareness and all intelligence services in Indonesia must coordinate well."
Prosecutors said Abdurrahman founded a network of extremists called Jehaah Anshorurt Daulah that has pledged allegiance to IS and has expressed opposition to the country's secular government.
