Indonesia Uncovers ‘Credible’ Terror Threat to Bali Bombing Anniversary

Posted October 10th, 2012 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
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Indonesian police say they have uncovered “credible evidence” of a planned terror attack on dignitaries attending a Friday ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the deadly Bali bombings.

Bali police chief I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said Wednesday that the country's security has been raised to its highest level ahead of the ceremony on the resort island.

“From the information we gathered, we have detected signs of an attack targeting dignitaries who will attend the event. Therefore, the police and army forces including the community have made sure of their readiness.”

Yoga Ana said over 2,000 security personnel have been deployed, and all entry points to Bali, including airports and seaports, are being monitored.

Among the world dignitaries expected at the ceremony is Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who said on Wednesday she is determined to attend despite the terror threat.

The October 2002 attacks on two Bali nightclubs killed 202 people, including 88 Australians and seven Americans.

The attack was carried out by the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group. All of the leading perpetrators of the attack are thought to have been executed, killed by police, or jailed during a crackdown on Islamist militant groups in the decade following the attack.