The Hindu : International : U.S. missions closed after security threat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

International

International

U.S. missions closed after security threat

JAKARTA: The United States closed all of its diplomatic facilities in Indonesia on Thursday because of an unspecified security threat, as American officials repeated earlier warnings about possible terrorist attacks in the world's most populous Muslim country.

The U.S. actions come a week after Australia urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Indonesia because of a warning by police in Jakarta about possible suicide bombings, particularly at embassies, international schools, office buildings and shopping malls.

Indonesian police repeated the warning on Thursday, saying two terror suspects — Malaysians Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamed Top — may be planning fresh attacks in Indonesia.

It was not clear, however, whether this was the cause of alarm for U.S. officials, and an Indonesian police spokesman said authorities knew of no specific threat against Americans.

In an e-mailed statement, U.S. officials reaffirmed that the threat of terrorism in Indonesia ``remains high,'' but did not say what led to the closures until further notice of the American embassy in Jakarta, and consulates in Surabaya, Medan and the island of Bali. Other American government offices would also be shuttered.

``Attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably American and other Western facilities or businesses in Indonesia,'' the statement said.

Since the September 11 attacks, the United States has closed its embassy for brief periods because of potential security threats.

It also evacuated nonessential staff and family members for six months after the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 persons.

The Bali attack was blamed on the Al-Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which also is believed responsible for the August 5, 2003 bombing of the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta. — AP

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