Australia Warns of Christmas Attacks in Indonesia

By Barrie | December 22nd, 2006 |

No Comments

It had t come after the exoneration of Abu Bakar Basyir. The morning newspapers across Australia ran stories in their broadsheets about possible terrorist attacks over the festive season. The DFAT website is full of it also. The Australian Government has warned of the dangers of terrorist attacks targeting westerners in Indonesia over Christmas.

Unfortunately this is the state of the world, not only in Indonesia, but the world. Let’s hope that sensibility, peace and respect for their fellow man reigns over the festive season. Here is an article from the Daily Times:

CANBERRA: Australia warned on Thursday of possible militant attacks in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year period, mirroring a US warning issued this week. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, has in recent years been hit by a series of bomb blasts blamed on Islamic militants.

“There is a credible threat of terrorist attack in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year period,” Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs warned citizens in a travel security warning. “

Large gatherings of people over the holiday season may be appealing targets for terrorists. Most attacks against Western targets have taken place in the capital, Jakarta, and on the resort island of Bali, where 92 Australians died in two separate bombings in 2002 and 2005.

“Terrorist attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta indicate that these areas are a priority target for terrorists in Indonesia,” the Australian warning said. Indonesian police said security would be tighter, especially in Jakarta and Bali, following the Australian and US warnings.

Jakarta plans to deploy about 18,000 police and 2,000 soldiers across the capital and its outskirts, Komang Udayana, a senior police official, said. “We don’t expect to have any threat reports. However, we will be on guard at all times. We will increase our security. We will focus on Christmas celebrations in churches and New Year’s eve,” Udayana told Reuters. Police said they were on alert in Bali.

Source: Daily Times

Category: Indonesian News, Daily, Bali

Tags: Bali, Daily, DFAT, Indonesia, Indonesian News, Islamic Militants, Jakarta, Muslim, Terrorist

If you found "Australia Warns of Christmas Attacks in Indonesia" useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at any of the following sites: