Australia warns of terror attack in RI

Australia warns of terror attack in RI

AUSTRALIA: Australia on Monday issued an updated travel warning for Indonesia, warning of the possibility of a terror attack during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The advisory urged Australians against traveling to Indonesia, including the resort island of Bali, "due to the very high threat of terrorist attack."

"We continue to receive a stream of reporting indicating that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," it says.

"Recent reports suggest that terrorists have been planning attacks against Westerners over the Christmas/New Year period. These attacks could be targeted at places where Westerners gather such as churches."

Four Australians were among those killed in the Oct. 1 bombings of popular Bali restaurants. The suicide blasts occurred almost three years to the day after 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed in car bombings outside a Bali nightclub strip.

The Australian embassy in Jakarta was targeted by a suicide bomber in September 2004.

"Further terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out and could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia," the advisory says. --AFP