Foreigners, VIPs to get extra security during Xmas
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.