Christmas Eve security in Jakarta.

Bomb squads searched for explosives at churches in Jakarta and its satellite cities just before Christmas Eve church services get underway amidst fears that Islamic terrorists might carry out attacks to deliberately mar the holiday.

Police Inspector Sulianto said that 80 bomb squads will be deployed at dozens of churches in Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok. He added:

We have been prepared to sweep churches in the capital to make sure they are safe,” he said. “As the result, we want to make sure that there should not any suspicious material left behind in the church ahead of mass prayer tonight.

The police are giving special attention to the Catholic Cathedral and the Protestant Immanuel Church in central Jakarta. The churches concerned are expected to attract 15000 worshippers between them.