U.S. warns of risk of new terror attacks in SE Asia

U.S. warns of risk of new terror attacks in SE Asia

Agence France-Presse, Washington

The U.S. authorities warned Friday that they feared the possibility of a repeat of last month's devastating Bali bomb attack in another part of Southeast Asia.

The State Department issued a statement urging Americans in Southeast Asia "to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution."

An Oct. 12 bomb blast in the Indonesian resort of Bali killed more than 190 people, many of them Australian.

And the State Department warned: "In the aftermath of the terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia, the possibility exists that similar attacks may occur in other Southeast Asian nations.

"The Department is concerned that individuals and groups may be planning terrorist actions against United States citizens and interests, as well as sites frequented by Westerners."

It added that extremist groups in the region "have transnational capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where Westerners congregate.

"Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorist groups and their sympathizers to seek softer targets such as clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, outdoor recreation events, hotels, resorts and beaches."

The statement highlighted that Jamaah Islamiya (JI), an Indonesian group which the U.S. declared a "foreign terrorist organisation" on Oct. 23 has "cells operating throughout Southeast Asia."

The State Department said that JI members detained in the region "have revealed links with al-Qaeda, other regional terrorist groups, and previous terrorist attacks in the region."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other U.S. agencies had warned of the risk of attacks before the Bali bombing.