Int'l schools close due to threat<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several international schools in Jakarta were closed on Friday
\ndue to a security advisory issued by the Australian Embassy over
\nspecific threats at international schools with Western students.<\/p>\n
The schools include the Australian International School (AIS),
\nthe Jakarta International School (JIS) and the British
\nInternational School (BIS).<\/p>\n
The advisory was based on the information about a new threat
\nto Westerners in Indonesia, which was received by the Australian
\nDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
\n(DFAT) spokeswoman in Canberra said it was the second threat made
\nsince the deadly Bali bombings which killed nearly 200 people,
\nincluding up to 90 Australians.<\/p>\n
\"We have received information regarding the possible targeting
\nby terrorist elements of international schools in Jakarta,\" the
\nspokeswoman told Reuters.<\/p>\n
\"The information that we have got has been provided to
\nIndonesian security authorities and school officials so that they
\nmay take appropriate action,\" she added.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to warn Australians about any risks in
\ntravel,\" the DFAT spokeswoman added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Peter Hoggins, the principal of British
\nInternational School in Jakarta said the school sent home
\nstudents and teachers at 11 a.m. on Friday.<\/p>\n
The decision was made following a discussion with the British
\nambassador about the advisory issued by the Australian Embassy.<\/p>\n
The closure of BIS was the second since the Oct. 12 Bali
\nbombing.<\/p>\n
At that time, BIS also sent students home due to a massive
\nprotest taking place in Central Jakarta, which caused heavy
\ntraffic in the city.<\/p>\n
\"It was because of the traffic. We have never received any
\nbomb threat,\" Hoggins told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
There have been dozens of bomb hoaxes in various places in the
\ncity after the Bali attack. No actual explosive devices have been
\ndiscovered after any of the threats.<\/p>\n
The Australian International School last year was rocked by an
\nexplosion as a grenade was thrown into the school yard on the
\nnight of Nov. 6. No one was injured during the incident and the
\nschool remained open. The police questioned at least a dozen of
\npeople for the grenade attack, but until today, the case remains
\na mystery.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/intl-schools-close-due-to-threat-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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