Indonesia authorities to deploy 160,000 security personnel to safeguard churches and tourism sites in the country during Christmas and New Year celebrations, local media reports.
The number has doubled compared to last year, when around 90,000 security personnel protected over 50,000 churches against accidents or terrorist attacks.
On December 13, Jakarta Metro Police declared that it will deploy 10,000 security agents to protect the capital during Christmas and New Year. Together with Armed Forces and city authorities, the police will tighten the security at selected key points in the city.
In recent years, Indonesia has witnessed a rise in terrorist attacks from the IS-linked Islamic extremists group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). In May 2018, the group started suicide attacks against churches that left more than 10 people from three different churches dead.
As a result, Indonesia police has taken more than 100 suspected terrorists into custody since the beginning of 2019.
