Int'l schools close due to threat

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.