"The president admires Polri`s achievement in ensuring the security and safety of Christmas and New Year celebrations," presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admires the recent efforts by the Indonesian Police (Polri) to prevent terrorism, including the arrests of a number of terror suspects, according to presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha.

In a text message to ANTARA here on Saturday, Julian said the president admires Polris achievements and encouraged the police to continue to do their duty in a professional manner.

"The president admires Polris achievement in ensuring the security and safety of Christmas and New Year celebrations," Julian said, adding that before Christmas the National Police chief reported to the president that there was reason to be concerned about the possibility of terrorist acts being carried out.

For this reason, the president instructed the National Police chief and his staff to take necessary steps to ensure security and safety during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Six terrorist suspects were shot dead during an encounter with the anti-terrorist police squad on New Years eve in Ciputat, South Tangerang district, Banten province.

National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said on Wednesday that before the New Years eve raid, the police had arrested a terrorist suspect named Anton in Banyumas, Central Java province, who gave information about his accomplices living in the Ciputat area.

According to Boy, five of six suspects have been identified as Daeng alias Dayat alias Hidayat, Nurul Haq alias Dirman, Oji alias Tomo, Rizal alias Teguh, Hendi and Ujuh Edo alias Amril.

Anton and his friends were suspects in a bomb attack on an orphanage in Beji, Depok district, West Java, that took place in September 2012.

The seven suspects are also allegedly responsible for shooting police officers 2nd Brig Maulana and 2nd Adj. Insp. Kus Hendratma in Pondok Aren, Banten province, in August 2013, Boy stated. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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