AFP reports that Indonesia named Tito Karnavian, a popular police general, as the new anti-terror chief, in response to increasing recruitment efforts by Daesh in the country.
Karnavian will leave his position as Jakarta police chief to head the National Counter Terrorism Agency. He was formerly the head of a local police counterterrorism unit.
"I am very happy to return to my natural habitat of counter-terrorism," Karnavian told reporters in Jakarta.
Karnavian's first move as anti-terror chief will be addressing the growing Daesh presence in Poso, on the central island of Sulawesi, according to AFP reports.
Daesh-affiliated militants launched a gun and bombing attack in central Jakarta in January, killing at least six people. It is estimated that hundreds of Indonesias have traveled to Syria to join Daesh.
The Indonesian government has been criticized for not rehabilitate and deradicalize militants once they are captured. One of the Jakatra attackers had previously spent time in prison for extremist activity, and was a known threat.
