Areas named in terror website guarded
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Security guards at Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta were especially vigilant on Monday in checking cars entering the mall and searching the bags of visitors.
"We do not want to take any risks. We have had orders since last week to be very careful in searching visitors. We heard that several locations along Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman were mentioned as possible bombing targets," one security guard, who asked not to be named, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Although on full alert, he said, the security guards were being careful not to frighten away shoppers.
Many other shopping malls and hotels in the main business areas of Jakarta have also increased security since last week.
Visitors to Mal Taman Anggrek in West Jakarta, for example, had to go through more thorough checks than usual over the weekend.
Security has been heightened since the discovery of a website allegedly connected to Malaysian terrorist suspects Azahari bin Husin and Noordin M. Top. The website claimed fresh attacks on malls and recreation centers in Jakarta were being planned.
The website, which authorities shut down following media reports on its existence, identifies several possible targets, including Ancol in North Jakarta, Duren Tiga and Ragunan in South Jakarta, and several malls and hotels along Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman.
Police are investigating who was responsible for the website.
Azahari was killed in a police raid in Batu, Malang, West Java, two weeks ago, while Noordin remains at large.
The two are the suspected masterminds of major attacks on Western targets in Indonesia, including the Bali bombings in 2002 and this Oct. 1.
Despite the heightened alert, there were few police officers seen in malls, office buildings and hotels. There were no police officers seen at Plaza Senayan on Monday.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said police were deploying more intelligence officers and plainclothes detectives to monitor locations mentioned on the website, instead of uniformed officers because of a desire not to alarm the public.
"We are monitoring the places mentioned as possible bombing targets on the site because we do not want to take any risks. However, we decided to deploy intelligence officers and detectives to monitor the locations so as not to cause fear among residents and visitors," he said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said officers at the subdistrict level had received special training to deal with terrorism.
"Several officers in each subdistrict in Greater Jakarta have been trained to explain to residents the threat of terrorism. For instance, they have to convince residents to report any newcomers to community or neighborhood unit chiefs, or to nearby police stations," he said.