Security Checkpoint Thwarts Attackers in Jakarta Mall

Security Checkpoint Thwarts Attackers in Jakarta Mall

Indonesia’s capital Jakarta was hit by a series of bombings on January 14 that killed at least two people and wounded many others. A number of explosions rocked the city’s Sarinah neighborhood starting at around 10:45 a.m. local time, followed by a gun battle between the attackers and police outside at Starbucks cafe.

One of the attacks was an explosion at a police checkpoint outside the Sarinah shopping center. The attackers were apparently targeting the mall, but were stopped by security guards and taken to the checkpoint. It was there that they set off their bombs.

These events suggest that a potentially much deadlier attack was foiled not by special intelligence or security measures, but by the routine checks that are in place at many public building around the world.

Jakarta put these measures in place after attacks on the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in 2009. The check has since been called “security theatre” by the local onlookers, a source of both entertainment and inconvenience for most shoppers.

Shopping malls and offices are often equipped with security oversees, ranging from airport style x-ray machines to metal-detector gantries. These are common in some other Asian cities, like Bankok and Mumbai.

There has been reluctance to add in security checks at malls in the U.S. because of the impression that it would be too great of an imposition on life. Security experts have found that Americans have no appetite for making malls closed in environments with one entrance and exit and a metal detector.

Some have suggested that just creating the impression of heightened security can cause potential assailants to give themselves away. In the case of the foiled Sarinah mall attack, perhaps the bombers were scared off by the guards and also gave themselves away. If that is true, then the supposed “security theater” really has its benefits.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.