BREAKING RED ALERT! Call your friends & relatives if
they are in Bali right now!
US embassy issues Bali New Year attack
warning
JAKARTA : The US embassy in Indonesia on Thursday said it had
received warning of a New Year terrorist attack from the governor
of the resort island of Bali, the scene of multiple bombings
targeting Westerners.
"There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight," it said
in a statement to US citizens carried on its website, quoting a
message from Governor Mangku Pastika.
The embassy said the Bali Tourism Board had widely distributed
the governor's message, which added: "Please don't panic, but put
your security system to full alert."
The embassy said the message had been "shared verbatim for your
information" but added that standard consular safety and security
recommendations "remain valid".
These remind US citizens that Indonesia has been targeted by
"violent elements" repeatedly since the Bali bombings of 2002 that
killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists including 88
Australians.
The embassy advises citizens to keep a "low profile" and be
"vigilant and prudent at all times".
"US citizens must consider the security and safety preparedness
of hotels, residences, restaurants, and entertainment or recreation
venues that they frequent," it says.
Police said 7,000 security personnel including US-trained
counter-terrorism units were being deployed around bars and
nightclubs on Bali as the island prepared to celebrate the New
Year. - AFP/ms