Bali on high alert after suspected terrorists' arrest

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 10/24/2008 1:34 PM  |  Headlines

The National Police has beefed up security in Bali amid concerns about potential threats to the Asian Beach Games, following the arrest of members of an alleged terrorist group in Jakarta, a spokesman said Thursday.

Police spokesman Sulistyo Ishak said the number of security officers in Bali had been increased, and security checks at entry points had been tightened.

There will be no increase to security measures in Jakarta, he said.

"An 'on alert' security status has been issued for Bali because of the international event being held there," he said.

The announcement came after the police detained five suspected terrorists in Jakarta and Bogor on Tuesday. Police are searching for two other suspects.

The detainees were allegedly planning to blow up state-owned PT Pertamina's fuel depot in Plumpang, North Jakarta.

The depot, built in 1972, distributes about 11,000 kiloliters of gasoline, 5,100 kiloliters of diesel oil and 4,200 kiloliters of kerosene to the Greater Jakarta area, according to official figures.

That the depot was targeted is raising questions about why terrorism targets have shifted from properties with foreign connections such as embassies to locally owned properties.

Sulistyo said the motives were still being investigated, and that the list of targets also included "several places and people".

He declined to name them but confirmed no government-related building was on the list.

"The important thing is that we have caught them (the five suspected terrorists) and seized their materials. Even if they (the terrorism syndicates) have targets, they don't have the means to attack them," he said.

He refused to provide details of how the police found the suspects.

The police are now concentrating on finding the two escapees and foiling any other terrorism plans, he said, and are questioning the wife of one of the detained suspects, Rusli Mardani.

"We still do not know what role each of these men had in the syndicate but there are indications of collaboration among different groups," he remarked, pointing out that the arrest might have sent some would-be terrorists into hiding.

He urged the public to be more alert to any suspicious behavior and for businesses and housing areas to tighten their security checks.

"In many cases, residents do not know when a neighbor has stored explosive materials. Neighborhoods should re-establish the old practice of reporting any overnight visitors to the authorities," he said.

The Plumbang depot was still on high alert two days after the arrest.

"The police have sent officers to our site. We are still determining the appropriate time to end the security situation," Pertamina vice president of communications Anang Noor said.

He said the depot had security guards and a sufficient security system.

"We will evaluate the system and perhaps the police will give us some recommendations," he said. (mri)

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