TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Police bomb squads deployed to secure churches on Christmas Eve in Jakarta

Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, December 24, 2017 Published on Dec. 24, 2017 Published on 2017-12-24T16:57:41+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
A member of the bomb squad (Gegana) secures Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta on Sunday. A member of the bomb squad (Gegana) secures Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta on Sunday. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

T

he Jakarta Police are safeguarding Christmas celebrations by deploying police officers as well as members of the bomb squad (Gegana) in all churches across Jakarta during Christmas Eve.

"Just like in previous years, we will ensure each police precinct secure all churches," Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said. He said the security measures were to anticipate potential issues, including the possibility of terror attacks. "We will also deploy Gegana teams [to the churches]," he said.

Argo said the security of each church would depend on the local police headquarters. "[The church services] are not the same; some on Saturday, some on Saturday night or Sunday night. But we will keep a record of everything," he said.

Argo said there were several churches that needed special attention due large congregations, such as Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta. In addition to deploying personnel, police will also install security equipment, such as metal detectors, at the entrances of some of the churches.

On Christmas Eve, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto are scheduled to monitor the security measures directly. (wit)

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.