Foreigners, VIPs to get extra security during Xmas

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City police are taking the kidnap threat against non-nationals seriously enough to broaden the focus of their end of year operation.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Friday the contents of a number of documents seized during raids against terror suspects suggested their group had changed tactics from blowing up prominent places during Christmas and New Year's to abducting prominent figures.

"We have received information that terrorists are targeting high-ranking state officials, diplomats and non-nationals. We have taken the necessary steps to anticipate their moves," Firman said after leading a ceremony to officially deploy officers to guard the capital during Christmas.

Firman said the followers of master bombmaker Azahari bin Husin, who was shot dead during a security forces raid in early November, were planning to retaliate.

"We must prepare for the possibility that terrorist groups will use Christmas and New Year's as the right moment to retaliate. But, National Police chief (Gen. Sutanto) has ordered each regional police chief to be prepared," he said.

Besides embassies and housing complexes where most residents are expatriates, the police will concentrate on securing places where year end celebrations are held and government offices, including police headquarters.

Firman said another possibility was that terrorists could shift from backpack bombs to smaller bombs, which they could hurl into a crowd.

The police have deployed 17,350 personnel to 1,252 houses of worship in Greater Jakarta and 900 other buildings, including offices and shopping centers.

Firman said tight security would be maintained until after New Year's as new recruits of Azahari's accomplice Noordin Moh. Top could launch attacks anywhere in the country, including in Jakarta.

Azahari and Noordin are believed to have masterminded a number of major attacks on perceived Western targets in the country, including the 2002 Bali blasts, in which 202 people were killed, mostly foreign tourists.

They were also believed to have played a role in the Oct. 1 Bali bombings, which killed 23 people, including three suicide bombers.

In 2000, suspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah bombed 11 churches on Christmas Eve, killing 19 people.

A document found during a raid on one of Noordin's hideouts referred to planned attacks on several locations in the capital.

Firman urged Jakarta residents to be watchful if they received a parcel from an unknown source as it could be packed with explosives.