Police to simplify bomb reporting<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hot on the heels of the bomb attack on the Wisma Bhayangkari
\nat National Police Headquarters, the police are considering
\nsimplifying the procedures for reporting bombs to the bomb squad
\nso as to ensure a quicker response.<\/p>\n
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo admitted that the
\ndrawn-out procedures for reacting to bomb threats had contributed
\nto the bomb squad's failure to arrive at the scene before the
\nbomb went off.<\/p>\n
\"We have evaluated our reporting procedures, which we have
\nfound to be too bureaucratic and time-consuming,\" said Prasetyo.<\/p>\n
If all goes to plan, after the evaluation of the recent
\nbombing, Prasetyo said, the public would simply be able to report
\nany bomb threat to the local police station commander who would
\nthen directly call the bomb squad so as to ensure an immediate
\nresponse.<\/p>\n
The bomb that went off at the Wisma Bhayangkari on Monday
\nmorning left the police red-faced as the bomb was actually found
\nby police more than an hour before it exploded.<\/p>\n
The bomb was discovered by two janitors, Entik, 54, and
\nNorman, 45, at 6:15 a.m., who then reported it to the police
\nofficers who were on duty. These officers then reported it to
\ntheir commander, who relayed the report to Jakarta Police
\nHeadquarters.<\/p>\n
An officer at city police headquarters then contacted the
\nSouth Jakarta Police precinct. Police officers from Kebayoran
\nBaru Police subprecinct led by Adj. Comr. Suhardjendra came to
\ncheck the report and then contacted the police bomb squad.
\nUnfortunately, the bomb exploded at 7:10, nearly 10 minutes
\nbefore the squad's arrival.<\/p>\n
The bomb, which police said was a low explosive one, damaged
\nthe Wisma Bhayangkari's lobby and two cars parked nearby. No
\nfatalities were reported.<\/p>\n
Monday's bomb attack was the first bomb in the capital, as
\nwell as the country as a whole, this year. Last year, police
\nreported at least four bomb attacks, which claimed two lives.<\/p>\n
The police are still in the dark over the identity of the
\nperpetrators and the motives behind the Wisma Bhayangkari
\nbombing.<\/p>\n
Last year, bomb threats, mostly sent in by phone, were
\nnumerous and mostly targeted high rise buildings, especially
\nfollowing the Bali bombings in October last year, which killed
\nmore than 190 people, mostly foreigners.<\/p>\n
Police said that at least 20 bomb threats were reported by
\nJakartans during the first month after the Bali bombings, though,
\nnot one of the threats turned out to be real.<\/p>\n
There are two bomb squads in Jakarta, one in Kwitang, Central
\nJakarta, belonging to the Jakarta Police and another in Kelapa
\nDua, Depok, belonging to the National Police.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, every police precinct should have its own bomb squad
\nso that the police can provide an immediate response to every
\nbomb report from the public.\" said Prasetyo.<\/p>\n
However, Prasetyo said this would not transpire any time soon
\nas special training would have to be provided to police
\npersonnel. \"And that takes time.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-to-simplify-bomb-reporting-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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