The Jakarta Metro Police is elevating protection measures for its own officers after three policemen were wounded in an attack by a suspected ISIS militant in Tangerang yesterday.
One measure is to pair every traffic police officer on duty with an armed officer.
“We’re implementing a buddy system. One officer would be directing traffic while another will be wearing a bulletproof vest and be equipped with a long range rifle,” said Jakarta Metro Police Spokesman Awi Setiyono, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
The assailant, identified as 22-year-old SA, reportedly began his attack by stabbing two unarmed traffic police officers with a machete. Some time later, Tangerang Police Chief Commissioner Efendi went to the scene with a gun and shot SA twice in the leg and once in the stomach, but not without being stabbed by SA’s machete himself.
All three policemen are still in intensive care at Siloam Hospital today in Tangerang. SA died from loss of blood while being transported to a hospital.
The Jakarta Metro Police has also instructed all police precincts in the city to tighten security and conduct more thorough screenings of anyone wishing to enter police facilities.
