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On alert ... Indonesian soldiers patrol in Jakarta
THE terror group Jemaah Islamiah was possibly planning an attack in Indonesia to coincide with the first anniversary of the Nias helicopter crash which killed nine Australians, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer indicated today.
Mr Downer today said he could reveal little about the intelligence which led the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to issue a fresh alert yesterday.
The alert warns of a very high threat of an attack somewhere in Indonesia tomorrow.
"The intelligence suggests that people who have previously been involved in terrorist activities could be planning a terrorist attack on April 2," he said in Adelaide.
Jemaah Islamiah (JI) was behind terrorist attacks on Bali in October 2002 (killing 202 including 88 Australians), the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in August 2003 (11 dead), the Australian embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 (11 dead) and at Bali again in October last year (23 dead, four of them Australian).
Mr Downer said the Americans had also made public they had similar information.
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In the new travel warning posted on its website, DFAT advises Australians to reconsider travel tondonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack.
"We continue to receive a stream of reporting indicating that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," it said.
"These reports include information about potentially heightened risk of attack on particular dates.
"Recent reports suggest Sunday April 2 2006 could be a potential date for attack but we emphasise that attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia."
Mr Downer said April 2 was the day Australia was holding a commemorative service on Nias island for the nine Australians killed in the Sea King crash there last year.
He said there was no information this possible terrorist attack would be specifically directed against Australians and there was no information about where the terrorist attack could take place.
"We have no information that it could take place on Nias Island or be in any way associated with the commemorative ceremony," he said.
Mr Downer said 28 family members were travelling to Nias, along with Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson, navy chief Vice Admiral Russ Shalders and air force chief Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd.
He said all had been informed about the intelligence and the threats and he did not expect any to change their mind about attending
