Indonesia boosts security ahead of Bali bombers' execution

Jakarta - Indonesia has stepped up security at major installations and public places ahead of the execution of three Muslim extremists convicted for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, a police spokesman said Friday.

"National police have ordered security be improved at shopping centres, malls and other strategic places across Central and East Java, and Banten provinces," said national police spokesman Abukakar Nataprawira. "Security will also be focused at the Australian and the US embassies in Jakarta."

Nataprawira declined to say when exactly the executions were to take place.

"About when (the execution will take place), that's the attorney general's office to decide. But the police are ready. Anytime," he said.

The Indonesian government does not publicly announce the exact timing of executions, but a spokesman of the attorney general's office said last week the bombers were to die in "early November."

Nataprawira said random vehicle and identification checks would be conducted in central Java's Cilacap port district, and in the waters around Nusakambangan Island, where the convicted bombers were being held.

Local media reports said hundreds of security personnel have gathered on Nusakambangan Island, off the southern coast of central Java, with heavily-armed police patrolling the roads.

Imam Samudra, Amrozi, known also as the "smiling assassin" and his brother Mukhlas, alias Ali Ghufron, will each face a firing squad over their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, mostly foreign visitors.

Achmad Kholid, one of the men's attorneys, told reporters that the men were yet to receive the formal letter notifying them of their execution, as is custom 72 hours before it is carried out.

Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Mukhlas have been on death row since 2003, when a Bali court sentenced them to death for their roles in the nightclub bombings. None of the bombers have shown any remorse for the attacks.

Executions in Indonesia are carried out by a firing squad at undisclosed locations in the dead of the night. (dpa)

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