Welcoming Christmas, Joint Personnel Focus On Security Of 8 Big Churches In East Jakarta

East Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Kombes Leo Simarmata (Rizky Sulistio VOI)

Welcoming the Christmas celebration, the East Jakarta Metro Police has tightened security in 8 churches with the largest number of congregants out of 200 churches in East Jakarta. Tightening the guard is carried out by joint personnel of three pillars and the Jibom Team Gegana Sat Brimob Polda Metro Jaya.

"We sterilized churches that are quite large for the people, the capacity. For Christmas Eve there are around 200 churches in East Jakarta, but there are eight large churches," said East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Kombes Leo Simarmata to VOI at the sterilization site of the Santo Antonius church, Jalan Bidara Cina, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, Sunday, December 24.

The first check and sterilization was carried out at the Coinonia Church located on Jalan Matraman Raya, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta.

The Coinonia Church is one of the oldest churches in East Jakarta and was threatened with bomb terror in 2000.

"Sterilization is carried out to increase awareness of all threats and terror. So that the congregation can worship safely and comfortably," he said.

Sterilization of the church was carried out at the Coinonia church, the Santo Antonius church in Bidara Cina, Santo Yusuf in Matraman, the Kudus church in Pulogadung and the Santa Ana church in Duren Sawit.

"We together with church administrators ensure that this Christmas Eve implementation, the Mass can run smoothly. Because the implementation is not only once, but can be twice to three times," he said.

Meanwhile, 180 personnel were involved to secure Christmas services in a number of churches.

"For the overall security in East Jakarta, we involve 180 personnel who have been divided into eight security posts. These eight security posts are attached to 8 large churches," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the East Jakarta Metro Police Chief led the sterilization of a number of churches in East Jakarta. One of the first churches to be examined was at the Coinonia church on Jalan Matraman Raya, to be precise next to the East Jakarta Metro Police, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, Sunday, December 24, afternoon.

The sterilization examination involved a number of Jibom Team Gegana Sat Brimob Polda Metro Jaya starting at 11.00 WIB.