The Jakarta Post, 12/24/2005 5:37:02 PM
Bomb squads sweep churches ahead of Christmas celebrations
JAKARTA (AP): Bomb squads searched for explosives at churches in Jakarta and the
capital's satellite cities hours before Christmas Eve celebrations amid fears that
terrorists might carry out attacks to deliberately mar the holiday.
Police Insp. Sulianto told The Associated Press that 80 bomb squads will be
deployed at dozens of churches in Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok.
"We have been prepared to sweep churches in the capital to make sure they are
safe," he said. "As the result, we want to make sure that there should not any
suspicious material left behind in the church ahead of mass prayer tonight."
Sulianto said his men also will sweep two main Catholic Cathedral Church and
Protestant Immanuel Church, both located in Central Jakarta. Some 15,000
churchgoers are expected to worship at the churches on Christmas Eve.
Some 17,000 police have been deployed to guard Jakarta, where terrorists "could
carry out (attack) tonight," Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, the Jakarta Police Chief told
reporters.
Tens of thousands of police are on duty nationwide, and churches in many Indonesian
towns have been checked, intelligence officials said.
Gani has warned terrorists will use Christmas and New Year celebrations to carry out
attacks.
The Southeast Asian terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah have been blamed for at
least five suicide bombings targeting Western interests since 2002 -- including Oct. 1
restaurant attacks on Bali island -- that together killed more than 240 people.
It is also accused in Christmas Eve church bombings five years ago that left 19 dead.
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