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.