Indonesia on Christmas alert

By Rachel Harvey
BBC correspondent in Jakarta

Police in Indonesia say they are significantly increasing security during the Christmas and New Year period.

Indonesian intelligence and Western embassies are warning that the threat of another attack by Islamic extremists remains very real, although they say they have no specific new information.

All police leave has been cancelled

In December three years ago a series of bomb attacks against Christian churches left 19 people dead.

Since then Indonesia has witnessed a devastating attack on nightclubs in Bali and a car bombing of a luxury hotel in Jakarta.

More than 22,000 police officers are being deployed across the Indonesian capital for what's been dubbed Operation Candlelight.

Their task will be to secure buildings believed to be potential targets for an attack by Islamic militants - restaurants, bars, shopping centres and Christian churches.

All police leave has been cancelled for a two-week period covering Christmas and the New Year.

The authorities are stressing that they have not received any information about a specific threat but are simply taking precautionary measures.

A lot of people obviously will go to church on Christmas... who might not go to church normally, and so (security) is... much more relevant at this time of year Richard Gozney, British ambassador to Indonesia

Western embassies are also warning their citizens to remain vigilant.

"We have named churches as well as bars and restaurants and other places where Westerners gather as potential targets for months and months now," said Richard Gozney, British ambassador to Indonesia.

"A lot of people obviously will go to church on Christmas, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, who might not go to church normally, and so it's more relevant, much more relevant at this time of year," he said.

Security around churches is likely to be especially tight. Cars will not be allowed to park close to religious buildings and all worshippers will be searched.

The Reverend Andrew Lake, vicar of All Saints Church in Jakarta, said he would not be surprised if some of his congregation decided to stay away.

"Some people will be scared off coming to church and we respect that. We respect the advice of the embassies and the security companies, but we're also aware that many people still want to come and worship at Christmas time and so it will be business as normal," he said.

Police are also on alert on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, home to a religiously divided population, after a bomb exploded there on Wednesday, although no-one was hurt.