As Indonesian authorities beef up security to counter a purported Christmastime terror threat against the country's Christians, leaders from that religious minority and other faiths call on citizens to be vigilant and united.

"I think we should be aware that there will be possible parties, who will use religion in their violent actions," Muslim cleric Toriq Bahharaddin said. "That's their tactic to divide us."

Particular faiths should not be blamed should an attack on a church, mosque or other place of worship occur during the yuletide and New Year season, he told Khabar Southeast Asia.

Nonetheless, all Indonesian Christians should be on guard for a possible attack, according to a pastor at Bethany Church in Jakarta.

"We will continue to look after each other. We will work with other fellow citizens in case of any attacks. Hopefully, we will have a peaceful Christmas this year," Pastor Yance Mamesakh told Khabar.

A public warning

Indonesia has been on a heightened security alert since December 12th when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a public warning about a possible extremist plot to attack Christian worshippers during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"Law enforcement agencies and security personnel must work harder to anticipate the possibilities," Yudhoyono told reporters.

He warned all citizens – particularly those in conflict-prone regions, such as Central Sulawesi, South Sumatra, West and East Java, as well as Jakarta – to be vigilant. The president also voiced concern that extremists were taking advantage of the Christian holiday and approaching 2014 elections to execute a terror plot.

"We have been monitoring many designated regions to make sure that everything is clear. We will take any action, when and if necessary," newly appointed National Police Chief Sutarman told Khabar on Sunday (December 15th).

On Monday, Sutarman told a House of Representatives (DPR) hearing his department was mobilising 87,000 police as a response to the threat.

His force's main priority, Sutarman told Indonesian lawmakers, was to foil "disruptions to Christmas and New Year celebrations".

Scrambling into action

As the force mobilised to counter the threat, police arrested several suspected members of Indonesian terrorist cells.

On Sunday, the police's elite Detachment 88 nabbed three suspected terrorists in related cases in Bekasi and Lamongan. Also that day in a separate case, police arrested a suspected terrorist allegedly involved in the August 4th bombing of the Ekayana Buddhist Centre in Jakarta.

And on Monday (December 16th), Detachment 88 arrested another man suspected of receiving Rp 47 billion ($3.8m) from the Abu Roban terror group to recruit terrorist operatives for military training in Poso, Central Sulawesi.

Despite the security mobilisation, Jakarta residents expressed fears about the terror threat.

"I think this year will be more complicated. We are not only dealing with the possible attacks during Christmas but also the election," 38-year-old Central Jakarta resident and Christian Melinda Christianti told Khabar. "Any irresponsible parties can use the attacks to provoke political tensions among political parties and use it for their own benefit."