Blasts 'attacks on Westerners' says Bishop

17 Jul 2009, 1:56 pm   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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Explosions that ripped through two luxury hotels in Jakarta, killing several foreigners,
could be attacks targeting westerners, the Opposition says.

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Explosions that ripped through two luxury hotels in Jakarta, killing several foreigners,
could be attacks targeting westerners, the Opposition says.

Bombs exploded at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in the Indonesian capital on Friday, ripping the facade off the Ritz-Carlton and killing at least nine people.

"Given that the Marriott has previously been the target of terrorist attacks back in 2003, it is understandable that there are concerns that these may be similar attacks," opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop told Sky News.

"We cannot rule out that this was an attack targeting Westerners, but at this stage the reports of the circumstances giving rise to these explosions have not yet been confirmed."

Ms Bishop described as "prescient" Australia's official travel advice to Indonesia.

"Our travel advisory does warn that if you need to travel to Indonesia there is a threat, a high threat, of terrorist attack."

Australians travelling to Indonesian needed to heed the advisory, which warns of the need to exercise extreme caution, especially in areas such as the hotel district where westerners congregate, Ms Bishop said.

It was to be hoped the attacks were unrelated to the recent Indonesian presidential election, she said.


 

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