Embassy resumes activities, police maintain high alert

Embassy resumes activities, police maintain high alert

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following the arrest of Zulfa, 22, who allegedly sent bomb
threats to the British and Thai embassies in Jakarta, the British
Embassy said on Sunday it would open as normal on Monday.

Embassy press officer Edith said both the British Embassy on
Jl. Imam Bonjol and the British Consulate General in the Deutsche
Bank building, both in Central Jakarta, would open to the public
on Monday.

"After reviewing the situation, the embassy has decided to re-
open to the public on Monday," she told The Jakarta Post.

After the embassy received a bomb threat last Thursday night,
it announced it would suspend all activities starting on Friday
while reviewing the situation.

The bomb threat was allegedly sent by Zulfa, a university
student, who wanted to prevent her boyfriend, a police officer
assigned to guard the Thai Embassy, from going home to Ngawi,
East Java, for the weekend.

Zulfa was arrested on Friday evening and is now in police
detention.

Despite the arrest of Zulfa, the Jakarta Police continued to
maintain tight security around the two embassies over the
weekend. Police officers from the elite Mobile Brigade and the
bomb squad patrolled both embassies, while police trucks
prevented cars from entering the compounds.

One officer deployed at one of the embassies, who did not wish
to be identified, said he was unsure how long the elevated
security at the two embassies would continue.

"We have not seen any threats but we cannot leave the
buildings until we receive further instructions," he told the
Post.

The deputy head of the Jakarta Police's general crimes unit,
Adj. Sr. Comr. Edi Tambunan, said the police were maintaining a
heavy presence at both embassies to prevent any real bomb
threats.

"With the arrest of Zulfa we believe that both embassies are
secure, but we do not want to take any risks because bombings can
take place at anytime and anywhere," he told the Post.

Indonesia has been on high alert in recent weeks following
warnings from the governments of Australia, the United States and
Britain that terrorists may be plotting a strike. The countries
have advised their citizens against traveling to Indonesia.

The bomb threat was received at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday night by
Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Bagus Eko Danto through a
message on his mobile phone.

The message said the British and Thai embassies would be
bombed within 12 hours.

City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that upon
receiving the message, the police searched both embassies but
found no evidence of bombs.

At 10:45 p.m., police declared both embassies secure, he said.

Police arrest Zulfa on Friday night and she allegedly admitted
having sent the message to police to prevent her boyfriend from
going home for the weekend.

Zulfa said she was angry her boyfriend was not taking her with
him.

Police said Zulfa violated Article 335 of the Criminal Code,
which is punishable by up to one year in prison.