Indonesia steps up anti-terrorism measures ahead of year-end holidays

Outside of the attacked church in Samarinda, Indonesia's East Kalimantan province on November 13 (Photo: time.com)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian police is deploying a so-called “Indonesia Prevents” operation to prepare for possible terror attacks ahead of Christmas and New Year. 

Religious celebrations tend to be used as occasions to carry out attacks, according to policy analyst and spokesperson of the National Police Rikwanto. 

He said one of the preventative measures is monitoring and arresting suspicious people. 

The same day, the National Police’s anti-terror squad arrested five suspected terrorists in Bekasi town and Kalideres town on the outskirts of Jakarta, said the country’s officials. 

Indonesia has witnessed a series of small–scale terror attacks in recent months, including a blast outside a church in Samarinda city of East Kalimantan, an attack on police officers on the outskirts of Jakarta, and an attempted suicide bombing at a church in North Sumatra. 

The police is monitoring over 50 militants who have returned to Indonesia after joining Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.-VNA