By DPA,
Jakarta : The US embassy in Jakarta Thursday warned of a possible attack on New Year’s Eve on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.
The embassy said in a circular posted on its website that the information was received from Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika.
“There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight,” the warning said, quoting the governor’s message.
“Please don’t panic, but put your security system to full alert,” the warning said.
Australian officials said Thursday, however, that the warning of a possible attack was just that.
They stressed the warning did not relate to a specific threat but was a recommendation from Indonesian authorities for visitors to the holiday island of Bali to take care.
Indonesian police could not be reached for comment.
Indonesia has been hit by a series of bombings, notably in 2002 when 202 people were killed, mostly foreign tourists.
Most of the attacks were blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah regional militant network.
The embassy urged US citizens in Indonesia to be vigilant, monitor local news reports, vary their routes and times, and maintain a low profile.
“While Indonesia’s counterterrorism efforts have been ongoing and partly successful, violent elements have demonstrated a willingness and ability to carry out deadly attacks with little or no warning,” it said.
Australia, which lost 88 of its citizens in the 2002 bombings, said it would not change its travel advice for Indonesia.
“We are aware of reports that the governor of Bali has issued a statement of a possible terrorist attack in Bali this evening,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday. “We understand this is a general warning. Indonesian security forces are on heightened alert this holiday season, as has been the case in past years.”
“Analysts consider that gatherings of Westerners over the Christmas and New Year holiday season may again be appealing targets for terrorists,” it added.