Int'l schools close due to threat

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several international schools in Jakarta were closed on Friday due to a security advisory issued by the Australian Embassy over specific threats at international schools with Western students.

The schools include the Australian International School (AIS), the Jakarta International School (JIS) and the British International School (BIS).

The advisory was based on the information about a new threat to Westerners in Indonesia, which was received by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

A spokeswoman of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokeswoman in Canberra said it was the second threat made since the deadly Bali bombings which killed nearly 200 people, including up to 90 Australians.

"We have received information regarding the possible targeting by terrorist elements of international schools in Jakarta," the spokeswoman told Reuters.

"The information that we have got has been provided to Indonesian security authorities and school officials so that they may take appropriate action," she added.

"We will continue to warn Australians about any risks in travel," the DFAT spokeswoman added.

Meanwhile Peter Hoggins, the principal of British International School in Jakarta said the school sent home students and teachers at 11 a.m. on Friday.

The decision was made following a discussion with the British ambassador about the advisory issued by the Australian Embassy.

The closure of BIS was the second since the Oct. 12 Bali bombing.

At that time, BIS also sent students home due to a massive protest taking place in Central Jakarta, which caused heavy traffic in the city.

"It was because of the traffic. We have never received any bomb threat," Hoggins told The Jakarta Post.

There have been dozens of bomb hoaxes in various places in the city after the Bali attack. No actual explosive devices have been discovered after any of the threats.

The Australian International School last year was rocked by an explosion as a grenade was thrown into the school yard on the night of Nov. 6. No one was injured during the incident and the school remained open. The police questioned at least a dozen of people for the grenade attack, but until today, the case remains a mystery.