Police on alert for possible terrorist attacks

Police on alert for possible terrorist attacks

Damar Harsanto
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Police said on Saturday that they were anticipating possible
terrorist attacks targeting the interests of the United States
and its allies in Indonesia in the wake of the war in Iraq.

"We are looking into all possibilities (including possible
terrorist attacks)," National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen.
Edward Aritonang said.

He added that threats of terrorist attacks were among the
reasons why the police had declared a state of high alert
nationwide after the war in Iraq began.

Separately, another police spokesman, Sr. Comr. Didi Rochyadi,
confirmed that the police were monitoring several places across
the country, which were suspected of harboring terrorist cells.

"We have received technical guidelines from the National
Police chief to monitor locations where acts of terror and
violence may take place," Didi told The Jakarta Post.

He refused to disclose the places for intelligence purposes.

Possible outbreaks of violence, including threats of terrorist
attacks, have become a major concern of the U.S., British and
Australian embassies here. They have issued notices asking their
nationals to ensure their safety amid the heightened risks on the
heels of the start of the war in Iraq.

In its latest warden notice issued on Saturday, the Australian
Embassy advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Surabaya, East
Java, citing "credible information that terrorist groups with a
history of targeting Westerners and Western interests may be
planning terrorist activities on or about March 23 in Surabaya".

Australian citizens were also advised to avoid commercial and
public places frequented by foreigners such as clubs,
restaurants, bars, other entertainment areas, hotels, schools,
outdoor recreation events, tourist areas, places of worship,
office buildings, international fast-food outlets, shopping
centers, public transportation, including ferries, luxury hotels
and their premises, and buildings associated with foreign
governments or interests.

Earlier on Friday, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar
increased the country's state of alert amid rising concerns of
security. But Da'i did not say if the deployment of the police's
full force of 250,000 personnel to monitor and uphold security
across the country was also linked to the possible threat of
terror.

"We don't want people to be overly cautious (with the state of
alert). We just want to prevent unscrupulous people from taking
advantage of the tension (to instigate violence or riots)," said
Da'i.

Recently, police arrested several prime suspects in a string
of bomb attacks across the country over the last three years,
including the Bali and Makassar blasts.

Police named the suspects by their places of origin, such as
the Bandung group, Serang group, Solo group, Lamongan group,
Jakarta group, Makassar group, Batam group, Manado group and Bali
group.

The police are still searching for several other suspects,
including Dulmatin and Jhoni Hendrawan, who are believed to be
skilled in assembling bombs.

Didi said police had also beefed up security around the
interests of the U.S. and its allies, including residences and
centers of business frequently visited by foreigners.

Jakarta, the home to many vital foreign business centers, had
earlier declared its state of high alert.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said the
city police were deploying its full force of more than 20,000
personnel to uphold security.