West Java Police step up security at strategic areas<\/p>\n
Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The police in West Java say they have enhanced security in all
\nstrategic areas in the province following the finding of an
\nexplosive device in one crowded shopping center in Bandung, the
\nprovincial capital, and a bomb blast in another on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Plaza Indonesia Department Store, where the
\nexplosive device was found on Thursday, was hit by a bomb blast
\non Friday, causing shoppers to flee the store in terror.<\/p>\n
An antiterrorist unit from the Bandung Police was in the
\nprocess of searching for the bomb after an unidentified person
\nphoned a warning to the department store's staff that there was
\nanother bomb in the building (after the device found on
\nThursday).<\/p>\n
Two people suffered light injuries when the homemade bomb,
\nwhich was similar to a large firecracker, exploded in the
\nbasement of the Bandung Super Mal on Jl. Gatot Subroto on
\nThursday. The injured victims were then rushed to a nearby
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Deddy S. Komaruddin, deputy chief of the West Java
\nProvincial Police, said all police stations had been instructed
\nto deploy more personnel to enhance security in public places,
\nincluding shopping centers, hotels, offices, schools and
\ntransportation terminals.<\/p>\n
\"We have launched an operation in strategic places and on the
\nstreets to crack down on the terrorists who are trying to cause
\nchaos in the city. All people and cars coming into the city must
\nbe checked. The operation is also underway in other towns, like
\nCirebon, Banjar and Ciamis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the operation was launched in anticipation
\nof possible terrorist attacks following the Oct. 12 Bali tragedy
\nthat killed almost 200 people. \"Besides, Bandung is quite
\nsusceptible to terrorist attacks because of its heterogeneous
\npopulation and the presence of many foreigners in the city,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
West Bandung Police Precinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Zainul
\nArifin said a score of police and Mobile Brigade personnel had
\nbeen deployed to search the Istana Plaza shopping center.<\/p>\n
\"But we didn't find any explosive devices,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Provincial Police have also established a 120-member
\ncounterterrorist unit in anticipation of further terrorist
\nattacks in the province.<\/p>\n
Sr. Comr. Hisar Nainggolan, inspector of the provincial
\npolice, said all members of the counterterrorist unit had
\nreceived training on how to handle terrorist attacks and were
\nskilled in the early detection of terrorist activities.<\/p>\n
\"The training course has been underway since Oct. 21 at the
\nMobile Brigade headquarters in the city, and is still ongoing,\"
\nhe said, adding that the counterterrorist unit would also have
\nintelligence officers to assist it.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-police-step-up-security-at-strategic-areas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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