Police up embassy security with terrorist executions pending

National Police are increasing security monitoring around foreign embassies in Jakarta in anticipation of revenge attacks that may follow the imminent execution of the convicted Bali bombers.

National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen Abubakar Nataprawira said more officers had been deployed to secure areas around embassies, particularly those of the United States and Australia.

"We've had police officers posted at the embassies. So far we are only securing the outer areas, but we are ready to go inside if an embassy requests it," he said.

Aside from intensifying protection of embassies in Jakarta, Abubakar said the police are also posting more officers at vital sites throughout the country and upping security on Nusakambangan island where the three Bali bombers -- Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron -- are expected to face execution by firing squad.

Police were also closely monitoring areas around the homes of the three terrorists, he said.

"As we all know, Nusakambangan in Central Java is where the execution will take place. Lamongan in East Java and Serang in Banten provinces are also being monitored closely because two of the convicted bombers came from Lamongan while one of them came from Serang," Abubakar added.

Previously, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) said Thursday that the execution could be carried out on any day from Nov. 1 until Nov. 20. (ast)