Further terror attacks imminent, police chief warns<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Eight days after the blast at the JW Marriott Hotel, top
\nofficials warned on Wednesday that Indonesians should brace
\nthemselves for future terror attacks.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar based his warning on
\nthe fact that captured members of terror group Jamaah Islamiyah
\n(JI) had admitted they were planning another major terrorist
\nattack. In addition, he said, six key Bali bombing suspects were
\nstill on the run, with the masterminds behind the attack still
\nunidentified.<\/p>\n
\"I warn all people in Jakarta that there might be another
\nattack, so we should all remain vigilant\" he told a press
\nconference here.<\/p>\n
He called on the public to cooperate with the police to
\nmaintain security. \"Please don't feel uncomfortable with the
\npresence of rifle-totting police in public areas. They are there
\nto guard you,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that although there was no specific
\nintelligence indicating that an attack was imminent, the current
\nsecurity situation was too volatile to predict what could happen.<\/p>\n
\"If we read the current political situation, we are shortly
\ngoing to celebrate our independence day, for instance, which
\nmeans large gatherings across the country. The trial of Abu Bakar
\nBa'asyir and the trials of suspects of the October 2002 Bali
\nbombings are still ongoing. So, in my assessment, the terrorists
\nmay intend to mount another attack,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australia, the United States and Britain have warned that more
\nterrorist attacks might occur in the near future.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday backed a warning by
\nAustralian intelligence that another devastating terrorist attack
\nwas inevitable. His government has issued a travel warning urging
\nAustralians to defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Australia's foreign affairs department has also advised
\ntravelers to avoid international hotels in Jakarta, which it
\nfeared might be the targets of terror attacks.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the U.S. State Department warned that extremists
\ncould be plotting more attacks against Americans in Indonesia, as
\nwell as U.S. government facilities and personnel.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Ralph Boyce repeated the warning on Wednesday,
\nsaying that \"it is likely that there will be further attempts to
\ncreate terror incidents.\"<\/p>\n
A senior Western diplomat has also said \"there are indications
\npointing to suicide bombers being active in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Security in the capital has been stepped up noticeably in the
\npast week.<\/p>\n
Last month, police arrested nine suspected members of the al
\nQaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group blamed for last
\nOctober's Bali attacks, and seized large quantities of
\nexplosives. Unconfirmed reports said that further large
\nquantities of explosives were transported to Jakarta prior to the
\nMarriott blast.<\/p>\n
Police have arrested 30 alleged JI members for their roles in
\na string of terror attacks in the country. Some of them are
\ncurrently standing trial at the Denpasar District Court.<\/p>\n
Alleged JI leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is on trial for treason
\nand immigration violations. Prosecutors have demanded 15 years
\nimprisonment for the cleric. He is not accused of any role in the
\nBali blasts.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/further-terror-attacks-imminent-police-chief-warns-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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