Police Anticipate Terrorist Attempts To Use Ferries

Minggu, 28 Agustus 2011 11:22 WIB

Kapolri Jenderal Timur Pradopo (kanan) didampingi Panglima TNI Laksamana TNI Agus Suhartono (kiri) ketika memantau di pelabuhan Bakauheni, Lampung Selatan, Sabtu (27/8). (Foto ANTARA/Triono Subagyo).

"The Police will continue to monitor possible attempts by terrorists to make the Ferry crossing from Bakauheni in Lampung to Merak in Banten,".

Bakauheni (ANTARA LAMPUNG) - National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo said he had issued an instruction to watch out for terrorists, attempting to cross over by public ferry boat from Bakauheni in Lampung, Sumatra, to Merak in Banten, Java.

"The police will continue to monitor possible attempts by terrorists to make the ferry crossing from Bakauheni in Lampung to Merak in Banten," Pradopo said when inspecting Bakauheni port on Saturday.

Pradopo, who was visiting Bakauheni port together with National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Agus Suhartono, said although the Idul Fitri traffic flow from Sumatra to Java via Bakauheni had yet to reach its peak, the possibility of terrorists trying to make the ferry crossing to Java needed to be anticipated early on.

The National Police chief and TNI chief inspected Bakauheni ferry port on Saturday morning to obtain first hand information about the management of the flow of this year's Lebaran holiday exodus.

"Basically, I think there is no problem at Bakauheni port
because it is currently used as a drop off point for passengers," Pradopo said.

However, he asked Lampung Police chief to coordinate with his staff to ensure security for holiday travelers who wanted to return to their home towns to celebrate the Lebaran festivity with their families and friends.

Meanwhile, Lampung Selatan Police Chief Senior Commissioner Bahagia Dachi said in Bakauheni on Thursday that some 43 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras had been installed at the port to monitor all activities during this year's Lebaran holiday exodus.

"All CCTV cameras are functioning well and can be used to monitor all activities around Bakauheni port for 24 hours," Lampung Selatan Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Bahagia Dachi said here on Thursday.

He said any criminal acts or accidents could be monitored immediately by the official at the post command and then to coordinate it with other police officials at every corner of the port.

According to Dachi, the CCTV cameras were placed at the port's entry gate, piers I to III, terminal, passengers waiting room, embarkation ramps, electronic ticket lines, and alleyways. (ANTARA).