Indonesia tightens security ahead of Christmas

Saturday, 23/12/2017 10:35
Indonesia will deploy some 180,000 security personnel ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays, local authorities said on December 22nd.


The move is made after 13 suspected militants were arrested in separate raids across the country earlier this month, many of whom were proven to have links with the Islamic State (IS) group or had fought in Syria.

Police spokesman Martinus Sitompul said no specific terror threats had been detected since the arrests, but security would be boosted to safeguard churches and public spaces between December 22nd and January 2nd, 2018.

About 70,000 people from other government agencies and civil society groups - including the country's largest Islamic youth organisation - will assist security personnel, he said.

Indonesia has long struggled with Islamic militancy and has suffered a number of deadly bomb attacks, including a Christmas Eve attack in 2000 that left 18 dead and scores injured.

A suicide bombing and a gun attack conducted by the IS in Jakarta in January 2016 also killed eight people./.

CPV/VNA

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