Foreigners, VIPs to get extra security during Xmas<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
City police are taking the kidnap threat against non-nationals
\nseriously enough to broaden the focus of their end of year
\noperation.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Friday
\nthe contents of a number of documents seized during raids against
\nterror suspects suggested their group had changed tactics from
\nblowing up prominent places during Christmas and New Year's to
\nabducting prominent figures.<\/p>\n
\"We have received information that terrorists are targeting
\nhigh-ranking state officials, diplomats and non-nationals. We
\nhave taken the necessary steps to anticipate their moves,\" Firman
\nsaid after leading a ceremony to officially deploy officers to
\nguard the capital during Christmas.<\/p>\n
Firman said the followers of master bombmaker Azahari bin
\nHusin, who was shot dead during a security forces raid in early
\nNovember, were planning to retaliate.<\/p>\n
\"We must prepare for the possibility that terrorist groups
\nwill use Christmas and New Year's as the right moment to
\nretaliate. But, National Police chief (Gen. Sutanto) has ordered
\neach regional police chief to be prepared,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Besides embassies and housing complexes where most residents
\nare expatriates, the police will concentrate on securing places
\nwhere year end celebrations are held and government offices,
\nincluding police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Firman said another possibility was that terrorists could
\nshift from backpack bombs to smaller bombs, which they could hurl
\ninto a crowd.<\/p>\n
The police have deployed 17,350 personnel to 1,252
\nhouses of worship in Greater Jakarta and 900 other buildings,
\nincluding offices and shopping centers.<\/p>\n
Firman said tight security would be maintained until after New
\nYear's as new recruits of Azahari's accomplice Noordin Moh. Top
\ncould launch attacks anywhere in the country, including in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Azahari and Noordin are believed to have masterminded a number
\nof major attacks on perceived Western targets in the country,
\nincluding the 2002 Bali blasts, in which 202 people were killed,
\nmostly foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
They were also believed to have played a role in the Oct. 1
\nBali bombings, which killed 23 people, including three suicide
\nbombers.<\/p>\n
In 2000, suspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah bombed 11
\nchurches on Christmas Eve, killing 19 people.<\/p>\n
A document found during a raid on one of Noordin's hideouts
\nreferred to planned attacks on several locations in the capital.<\/p>\n
Firman urged Jakarta residents to be watchful if they received
\na parcel from an unknown source as it could be packed with
\nexplosives.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreigners-vips-to-get-extra-security-during-xmas-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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