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.