Authorities are calling on residents of Indonesia's capital region to help shield it from potential terrorist acts by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other militant groups, by watching for and reporting suspicious activity.
Officials say the public's assistance is needed to keep the region, which is home to more than 28 million people, secure.
"Jakarta is the heart of our country, and so we remind everyone that this is all our responsibility as citizens," Jakarta Police chief Unggung Cahyono told Khabar Southeast Asia. "It is better to prevent rather to regret."
Unggung said his department is urging Jakarta residents, leaders and satellite cities to remain vigilant for militant-related activities.
"We have realised that within the last three years, major terrorist arrests were conducted around Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi)," Unggung said.
National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) analyst Sri Yunanto said an attack on Jakarta would also harm the national economy.
"So we have to continue to be on alert," Sri told Khabar.
Meanwhile, police and other security agencies are co-operating to protect Jabodetabek from terrorist threats, National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said.
"We work with the district-level military personnel known as Babinsa ( Bintara Pembina Desa ), local police and leaders of neighbourhood communities," he told Khabar.
Jakarta is not immune from terrorism, as extremists have targeted the region with lethal results.
Resident Zaulkifi Salim remembers the July 17th, 2009 suicide bombings at the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels , which killed at least six people and injured dozens more.
"It was horrible. I saw all the fears and tears from those who lost their loved ones . Muslims were angry with the terrorist actions," Zaulkifi told Khabar. "Attacking Westerners in the name of jihad is obviously wrong.
"I was born and raised here. We witness various kinds of violence, and therefore, we will commit to help the authorities stop any wrong activities under wrong teachings of Islam."
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