Police on alert for possible terrorist attacks<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Police said on Saturday that they were anticipating possible
\nterrorist attacks targeting the interests of the United States
\nand its allies in Indonesia in the wake of the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n
"We are looking into all possibilities (including possible
\nterrorist attacks)," National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen.
\nEdward Aritonang said.<\/p>\n
He added that threats of terrorist attacks were among the
\nreasons why the police had declared a state of high alert
\nnationwide after the war in Iraq began.<\/p>\n
Separately, another police spokesman, Sr. Comr. Didi Rochyadi,
\nconfirmed that the police were monitoring several places across
\nthe country, which were suspected of harboring terrorist cells.<\/p>\n
"We have received technical guidelines from the National
\nPolice chief to monitor locations where acts of terror and
\nviolence may take place," Didi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He refused to disclose the places for intelligence purposes.<\/p>\n
Possible outbreaks of violence, including threats of terrorist
\nattacks, have become a major concern of the U.S., British and
\nAustralian embassies here. They have issued notices asking their
\nnationals to ensure their safety amid the heightened risks on the
\nheels of the start of the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n
In its latest warden notice issued on Saturday, the Australian
\nEmbassy advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Surabaya, East
\nJava, citing "credible information that terrorist groups with a
\nhistory of targeting Westerners and Western interests may be
\nplanning terrorist activities on or about March 23 in Surabaya".<\/p>\n
Australian citizens were also advised to avoid commercial and
\npublic places frequented by foreigners such as clubs,
\nrestaurants, bars, other entertainment areas, hotels, schools,
\noutdoor recreation events, tourist areas, places of worship,
\noffice buildings, international fast-food outlets, shopping
\ncenters, public transportation, including ferries, luxury hotels
\nand their premises, and buildings associated with foreign
\ngovernments or interests.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar
\nincreased the country's state of alert amid rising concerns of
\nsecurity. But Da'i did not say if the deployment of the police's
\nfull force of 250,000 personnel to monitor and uphold security
\nacross the country was also linked to the possible threat of
\nterror.<\/p>\n
"We don't want people to be overly cautious (with the state of
\nalert). We just want to prevent unscrupulous people from taking
\nadvantage of the tension (to instigate violence or riots)," said
\nDa'i.<\/p>\n
Recently, police arrested several prime suspects in a string
\nof bomb attacks across the country over the last three years,
\nincluding the Bali and Makassar blasts.<\/p>\n
Police named the suspects by their places of origin, such as
\nthe Bandung group, Serang group, Solo group, Lamongan group,
\nJakarta group, Makassar group, Batam group, Manado group and Bali
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
The police are still searching for several other suspects,
\nincluding Dulmatin and Jhoni Hendrawan, who are believed to be
\nskilled in assembling bombs.<\/p>\n
Didi said police had also beefed up security around the
\ninterests of the U.S. and its allies, including residences and
\ncenters of business frequently visited by foreigners.<\/p>\n
Jakarta, the home to many vital foreign business centers, had
\nearlier declared its state of high alert.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said the
\ncity police were deploying its full force of more than 20,000
\npersonnel to uphold security.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-on-alert-for-possible-terrorist-attacks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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