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| Terror Networks & Islam |
| Attack threat on Australian embassy |
| 2005-05-22 |
| A SUSPECTED terrorist group identifying itself only as "Allah" has threatened to attack Australia's embassy in Cambodia as the first in a wave of strikes on Australian and Western missions throughout the region. A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that Canberra was aware of the threat and had "responded to ensure appropriate security measures are in place". DFAT has been frantically upgrading security at posts around the world since the suicide bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta in September, which killed 10 and injured more than 200. The Australian understands the latest threat was received in a letter sent by the Allah group to Canadian authorities last month. The letter threatened to attack the embassies of Australia, Canada, the US and other Western nations involved in the war on Iraq. It said embassies in Cambodia would be the first targets. The Canadians have responded by seeking assistance from Thai intelligence agencies to track down the little-known group. Canada has stepped up security at its embassy in Cambodia, and it is believed Australia also stepped up security. However, a DFAT spokeswoman refused to confirm whether security at the mission in Phnom Penh had been boosted, saying only: "We keep the security of our missions overseas under review at all times." Australia issued a warning earlier this month that it had received a terrorist bomb threat in East Timor. The warning led to a dozen Australian embassy staff and about 30 military advisers being confined to their high-security compound. The East Timorese Government responded by conducting a sweep of buildings for explosive devices, but found none. DFAT updated its travel warnings for Indonesia last week following Indonesian police alerts about possible suicide bombings in Jakarta. The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polri) identified as possible targets places frequented by foreigners including embassies, international schools, office buildings and shopping malls. "No timeframe is indicated in the Polri warning but we assess that attacks could occur at any time," DFAT said. "In addition, we continue to receive reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets. The Polri warning underlines that these attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners." DFAT continues to advise Australians to defer non-essential travel to the country, including Bali. "The bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy on September 9, 2004 underscores the ongoing terrorist threat to Australians in Indonesia," DFAT said. The Australian Government is upgrading security at its embassies and missions around the world to allow them to withstand possible suicide bomb attacks. This month's budget allocated $150 million over four years to continue the process of upgrading embassy security. |
| Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042 |
| #1 Shoot. Good luck, mates! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-05-22 23:19 |