Jakarta – One of Southeast Asia's most wanted Islamic militants may be hiding on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, police said on Monday as they stepped up security at luxury hotels and embassies after a US warning.
Jakarta police spokesman Tjiptono said that although police in the capital were already on high alert, they had yet to see signs an attack was imminent.
"We think Azahari and his people are just outside Jakarta," Tjiptono told Reuters, referring to the Malaysian fugitive accused by Indonesian police of being the chief bomb-maker for the regional al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant network.
"We are increasing security as a precaution. We can't tell what they are planning to do, but we're on guard." Jakarta Police Chief Firman Gani said security had been reinforced at 11 embassies, including France, Canada, Germany and the United States. Five luxury hotels, namely the JW Marriott, Shangri-La, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and the Hilton, had also had police security strengthened, he said.
Gani said other hotels had been asked to take their own measures to increase security.
Police have said Azahari is among the masterminds behind a spate of bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali blasts that killed 202 people, the 2003 JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta that claimed 12 lives, and last year's blast outside the Australian embassy that killed 10 people.
The United States embassy on Friday warned Americans of a threat to bomb the lobbies of hotels frequented by Westerners in Jakarta.
Tensions have also been raised by the May 28 blasts that tore through a market in the predominantly Christian city of Tentena on eastern Sulawesi island. That attack killed 22 people, making it the bloodiest since the Bali nightclub blasts.
Police have identified two suspects in that bombing, but said while it bore the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiah they had yet to determine a motive.
Despite heightened security at hotels, there appeared to be little impact on occupancy. "In fact, last weekend our occupancy rate went up," Yos Rizal, director of sales of the five-star Aryadutta hotel, told Reuters. "But we are tightening security, and we have asked for additional police to safeguard the compound," he said.
The Jakarta Hilton also reported no drop off in guests. "Our occupancy is still stable, and we haven't seen any guests cutting their stays," said Emeraldo Parengkuan, public relations director. Security at major malls is also tight.
The US Embassy and others have issued a number of warnings to their citizens about security in Indonesia in recent years. Among other things, the warnings have advised people to avoid hotels, shopping centres, nightclubs and housing areas popular with Westerners.
About 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people are Muslim. But in some eastern parts, Christian and Muslim populations are about equal. Communal tensions have in the past been exploited by radical Islamic groups.