Jakarta Police on High Alert Following Surabaya Church Bombing

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Idham Azis instructed all of the police officers in Jakarta to be at high alert status (Alert One) following the suicide bombing in Surabaya.

Head of Operations Bureau (Karo Ops) Polda Metro Jaya Commissioner Besae Slamet Hadi Sipraptoyo said the increase in preparedness status does not mean the situation is chaotic.

"The police must be always on standby," said Slamet on Sunday, May 13.

Read also: PGI Urges Political Elites Not to Comment on Surabaya Bombing

The status of alert one is known through a letter signed by Metropolitan Jaya Regional Police Chief Inspector General Idham Azis with Number: STR/817/V/PAM.3.3/2018 dated May 13, 2018.

The content of the letter was delivered to create a conducive situation. In connection with the explosion of bombs at three different church locations in Surabaya, it was ordered the preparedness status of all the Polda Metro Jaya staff stated in the alert one status.

Read also: Surabaya Bombing: Police Detonate Leftover Explosives in Church

The letter refers to the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 2/2002 on the Police of Republic of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the meaning of alert one is three-quarters of the police force to standby at the headquarters or in accordance with plotting. They also should not take leave, so ready to be deployed at any time as needed.

ANDITA RAHMA