Security tightened in the capital
Security tightened in the capital
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta Police increased security around the capital following
the bombings in Bali on Saturday night.
Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Sunday he had
declared the city on full alert on Saturday, and had prepared
two-thirds of the city's 26,000 officers to provide security in
the capital.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered us to increase
security in the capital. That is why I declared Jakarta on full
alert. That means no officers will be allowed to go on leave," he
said.
Firman said police were increasing surveillance at all of the
gateways into the capital, and doubling the number of security
personnel stationed at foreign embassies, shopping malls, hotels
and other locations frequented by foreigners.
At three embassies -- the Australian, British and U.S. -- the
number of police personnel doubled immediately after Saturday
night's attack.
The number of police personnel stationed at the U.S. Embassy
increased from 15 to 30, while the Australian Embassy now has 10
officers from five. The British Embassy is now being guarded by
eight officers.
Firman said police intelligence officers and detectives were
monitoring locations in the city thought to be potential targets
for terrorists.
Susilo said immediately after the bombings that the government
had received intelligence information in July that terrorist
networks in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines were planning
attacks in Jakarta.
He said that after receiving this information he ordered
security in the capital to be beefed up.
Firman said that starting on Monday police would run checks on
all people moving into Jakarta.
"We will work with neighborhood and community unit heads to
check every newcomer because we know that the terrorist groups
have been hiding among residents," Firman said.
In addition to these preventative measures, the police said
they were also preparing personnel to react in the event of a
terrorist attack in the capital.