Police Start Sterilizing Churches In Solo Ahead Of Christmas 2024, Deploy K-9 Dogs

Officers are conducting sterilization at the St. Antonius Purbayan Church, Solo, Central Java, Monday (12/12/2024). ANTARA/Aris Wasita

The Surakarta Police have deployed their members to start sterilizing a number of churches in Solo ahead of the 2024 Christmas celebration.

One of the checks was carried out at the St. Antonius Purbayan Church, Solo, Central Java, Monday, December 23.

During the check, a number of officers checked the congregation's seats to the pulpit of the church.

Apart from officers, the Surakarta Police also deployed a K-9 Unit that combed the outside of the church.

Apart from Purbayan, similar steps were also taken in several other churches, including GKJ Manahan, GBIS Kepunton, and GPIB Penabur.

Related to this, previously, the Surakarta Police, Kombes Pol. Iwan Saktiadi, said that during the sterilization process, the police also coordinated with the church.

"Where will we start massing," he said.

On Sunday, December 22, his party had also checked security at a number of churches in Solo, one of which was at St. Peter Gendenden's Catholic Church.

"This church is one of 19 churches that are categorized as 1. Category 1 is a church whose congregation is above 1,000 with mass more than twice a day," he said.

His party has also conveyed to the church that security from the police was carried out for a full 24 hours.

"We are 24 hours to provide security for the implementation of the mass at Christmas and celebrations after the mass," he said.