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US warns of attacks in Indonesia
AFP - The United States said terrorists may be plotting attacks against its citizens and interests in Indonesia, including kidnapping.
In an updated travel warning, the State Department said the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group still had US citizens in its sights, after attacks on a Bali nightclub last year and a US-run hotel in Jakarta earlier this month.
The travel warning repeated the contention that the group had links to al-Qaeda.
And it said the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group may target US citizens - even those in Indonesia.
"The terrorist attacks in Jakarta and Bali, which took place in areas with large numbers of foreign tourists, clearly indicate that a security threat extends to private American citizens," the warning said.
"The US government believes extremist elements may be planning additional attacks targeting US interests in Indonesia, particularly US government officials and facilities."
It particularly mentioned so-called soft-targets such as bars, nightclubs and churches, which could attract terrorists because US installations were better protected.
The warning also cited "a risk of kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the border areas of Indonesia near Malaysia and the Philippines".
"The Abu Sayyaf has previously carried out kidnappings in Malaysia and the Philippines, and the group has the operational capability to do so in Indonesia, also."
The warning about kidnappings in non-border areas of Indonesia was not contained in a previous travel warning for Indonesia, issued on August 8.
This was the first such warning issued since the arrest of alleged JI leader Hambali in Thailand on August 11. He is now in US custody at a secret location.
It also repeated US concerns about foreigners visiting the Indonesian region of Aceh, where government troops have been fighting separatist rebels.
The State Department advisory repeated previous warnings for US citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia.
It also warned about the potential for violence and unrest in areas such as Maluku, North Maluku, Sulawesi, Papua, and West Timor.
Two Americans were killed in an incident in Papua last year, during an ambush that some US government sources say may have involved Indonesian security forces.
©AAP 2003
AFP - The United States said terrorists may be plotting attacks against its citizens and interests in Indonesia, including kidnapping.
In an updated travel warning, the State Department said the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group still had US citizens in its sights, after attacks on a Bali nightclub last year and a US-run hotel in Jakarta earlier this month.
The travel warning repeated the contention that the group had links to al-Qaeda.
And it said the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group may target US citizens - even those in Indonesia.
"The terrorist attacks in Jakarta and Bali, which took place in areas with large numbers of foreign tourists, clearly indicate that a security threat extends to private American citizens," the warning said.
"The US government believes extremist elements may be planning additional attacks targeting US interests in Indonesia, particularly US government officials and facilities."
It particularly mentioned so-called soft-targets such as bars, nightclubs and churches, which could attract terrorists because US installations were better protected.
The warning also cited "a risk of kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the border areas of Indonesia near Malaysia and the Philippines".
"The Abu Sayyaf has previously carried out kidnappings in Malaysia and the Philippines, and the group has the operational capability to do so in Indonesia, also."
The warning about kidnappings in non-border areas of Indonesia was not contained in a previous travel warning for Indonesia, issued on August 8.
This was the first such warning issued since the arrest of alleged JI leader Hambali in Thailand on August 11. He is now in US custody at a secret location.
It also repeated US concerns about foreigners visiting the Indonesian region of Aceh, where government troops have been fighting separatist rebels.
The State Department advisory repeated previous warnings for US citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia.
It also warned about the potential for violence and unrest in areas such as Maluku, North Maluku, Sulawesi, Papua, and West Timor.
Two Americans were killed in an incident in Papua last year, during an ambush that some US government sources say may have involved Indonesian security forces.
©AAP 2003