Three states warn RI of terror attack

Three states warn RI of terror attack

Agencies, Jakarta/Sydney/London

At least three countries -- Australia, Britain and New Zealand -- warned on Wednesday that they had received credible intelligence suggesting an imminent terrorist strike on an Indonesian target, possibly a large hotel.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, however, toned down the fears, saying police had already stepped up security in Jakarta and other towns and cities across the country over Christmas and New Year.

Australia said on Wednesday a terrorist attack could be carried out soon in Indonesia, possibly targeting Western establishments such as hotels.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the information was based on credible intelligence.

"We have had advice of a possible terrorist attack on ... (Western) hotels, so we would urge Australians over the next period to keep well clear of these sorts of establishments," Downer said.

In Wellington, New Zealanders were also warned on Wednesday against traveling to Indonesia, including Bali, over Christmas and New Year after that government received reports that terrorists were planning an attack.

A revised travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade urged New Zealanders to defer tourist and non- essential travel to Indonesia until further notice.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office in London warned on Wednesday that Britons traveling to Indonesia over Christmas and the New Year faced a "heightened risk" of terrorist attacks.

Attacks "could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed against locations frequented by tourists", a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Max Kwak, on the other hand, said the Jakarta mission had issued no such warnings.

Two-thirds of the 25,000-strong police force had been deployed in Jakarta and its outskirts to ensure security, Insp. Gen. Firman said.

"The (Jakarta Police) chief ordered us on Monday to beef up security one week ahead of Dec. 25 for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Since receiving the news on the travel warning, he has ordered that we deploy now," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said at an impromptu press conference.

"We have ordered the managements of shopping malls and hotels to carry out standard security checks," he said.

Tjiptono added that the public should not worry, as police were prepared to guarantee their safety.

"All our intelligence personnel have been working hard to gather any shred of information on terrorist attacks," he said.

Indonesia witnessed it worst terror bombing on Oct. 12, 2002, in Bali, when over 202 people, mostly Australian holidaymakers, were killed.

Most recently, a car bomb outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta killed 11 people and wounded more than 180 on Sept. 9.

Indonesian police have blamed the bombings on Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), considered the regional arm of al-Qaeda.

The JI was also blamed for bomb attacks on churches across Indonesia on Christmas Eve in 2000 that killed 19 people and an attack at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year that killed 12.