Australia warns of possible new terror attacks in RI

Australia warns of possible new terror attacks in RI

Associated Press, Sydney

Australia has warned its citizens against traveling to Indonesia, saying it has credible evidence that terrorists are in the "advanced stages" of plotting a terror attack before the end of the year.

In a revised travel advisory issued late on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it continued "to receive a stream of credible reporting suggesting that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia."

"Recent new information suggests that terrorists may be planning attacks to occur before the end of 2005," it added.

The department advised Australians to avoid all nonessential travel to Indonesia and warned those already in the archipelago nation to consider leaving immediately.

"Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed at any locations known to be frequented by foreigners," the advisory warned.

Hotels, schools, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, embassies and "other areas where Westerners tend to gather" were all listed as possible targets.

Australian interests have been the target of several terrorist attacks in Indonesia in recent years.

Four Australians were among the 23 people killed by suicide bombers on the popular resort island of Bali on Oct. 1 this year, and 88 Australians were also killed in the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings.

The Australian Embassy was also targeted by suicide bombers in September last year, killing 11 people, none of them Australian.

"The 1 October Bali bombings and bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy on 9 September, 2004, underscore that the threat to Australians in Indonesia is real," the advisory said. "The possibility of another attack against Australians cannot be ruled out."