Australian Government Warns Citizens travelling to Bali and other parts of Indonesia as they continue to receive information that indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place anywhere at any time

Australian Government Warns Citizens travelling to Bali and other parts of Indonesia as they continue to receive information that indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place anywhere at any time

Indonesia is experiencing sporadic transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. We advise all travellers to protect themselves from mosquito bites (see Health). The overall level of advice has not changed. We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali.

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Summary

·We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the high threat of terrorist attack. You should also be aware of the severe penalties for narcotics offences, including the death penalty; some specific health risks; and risks associated with natural disasters.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bali and Lombok, due to the high threat of terrorist attack.

We continue to receive information that indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place anywhere at any time.

On 14 January 2016, terrorists attacked a Starbuck's cafe and police post near the Sarinah Plaza in Central Jakarta, detonating bombs and exchanging gunfire. Eight people were killed, including the terrorists and one foreign national. The Indonesian police have made a large number of arrests of suspects linked to terrorism.

The attack in Jakarta demonstrates the continuing terrorism threat in Indonesia. Groups linked to or inspired by the conflict in Syria and Iraq have anti-Western motivations. Police have stated publicly that terrorist suspects remain at large and that they may seek to attack Western targets. There is a high threat of further similar attacks against Western targets (see list below).

Since January 2016, a number of threats have been received by Indonesian authorities from groups purporting to be planning attacks, including in Bali.  Indonesian security agencies continue to conduct operations against terrorist groups. Since 2010, police have disrupted a number of terrorist groups in Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, West Java, Bali, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, Banten, and North and South Sumatra. Extremists in Indonesia may seek to carry out small scale violent attacks with little or no warning.

We recommend you be particularly vigilant during holiday periods including Christmas and New Year, Nyepi (Balinese New Year, 9 March), Easter and Independence Day (17 August). Gatherings at places of worship in such places as Poso and Solo have been, and may still be, targets for terrorists.

Gatherings at places of worship during periods of religious significance have been targeted in the past, particularly in places like Poso and Solo, and could be attacked again. Gatherings of Westerners over these periods could also be appealing targets for terrorists.

In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided at venues. Terrorists have previously attacked or planned to attack nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, international hotels, airports and places of worship in Bali, Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia. Tourist areas and attractions throughout Indonesia and tourists travelling to or from these places, including those in tour groups or tour buses, could be targeted.

Other possible targets include clubs, sporting clubs and venues, international fast food outlets, Western-branded venues, cinemas, theatres, Jakarta's embassy district and diplomatic missions elsewhere, international schools, expatriate housing compounds and Western interests and businesses. Places frequented by foreigners, central business areas, office buildings, banks, airlines, public transport and transport hubs, shopping centres, premises and symbols associated with the Indonesian Government and police, and outdoor recreation events are also potential targets.

Suicide attacks at locations frequented by foreigners in Bali and Jakarta, such as the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings and bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004, have killed and injured many people.

In July 2009, terrorists detonated bombs at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the JW Marriott Hotel in Mega Kuningan, Jakarta. Australians were among those killed and injured. The JW Marriott Hotel was also attacked in August 2003.

A number of attacks have targeted Indonesian government facilities, including police stations and checkpoints.

On some occasions where high profile extremists have been detained or killed, there has been a strong response from some supporters in Indonesia, including acts of violence.

In the event of an attack, you should leave the affected area immediately if it is safe to do so and follow the instructions of local authorities. You should not remain in an affected area or gather in a group in the aftermath of an attack or if you are evacuated from a building for security reasons (such as a bomb threat). Terrorists have conducted secondary attacks targeting bystanders and those who come to help.

As a consequence of the security environment, security at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Consulate-General in Bali remains at a high level. The Australian Embassy has advised its staff and their families to be particularly careful in how they travel to and from the Embassy.

For security reasons, staff at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta have been directed not to live in apartments which are co-located with, adjacent to or closely associated with international hotels that have been and may continue to be terrorist targets.

Central Sulawesi Province: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Central Sulawesi. There are ongoing security operations by Indonesian authorities against terror groups in Central Sulawesi, where terrorist groups have conducted a number of recent attacks targeting civilians. In January 2015, terrorist groups in Poso, exchanged gunfire with security forces. In April 2015, two policemen were killed by terrorists. In August 2015, a policeman was killed in an exchange of gunfire with terrorists in Poso. In September 2015, two civilians were killed by terrorists in Parigi Moutong Regency in Central Sulawesi.