BALI'S deputy police chief believes there is, "a terrorist group targeting the 10-year memorial of the Bali bombing", and that local authorities would "prioritise" the event.
"There will be security involving the people, the event, the activities, and places," the Deputy Police Chief, Brigadier-General Ketut Untung Yoga Ana, said.
He said said the Indonesian army, TNI, would be involved in the defence effort, as would police and local villagers. The deputy chief would not name any particular VIP as a target of the potential attack, nor the identity of the group believed to be involved.
The warning has perplexed Australian security agencies, which, as of late yesterday, had no specific information that pointed to an increased threat.
If specific information had been received, it is likely the Foreign Affairs Department would have also revised its travel warning for Indonesia, which has not been updated for a fortnight and has no warnings about the event.
The comments also contradict statements made earlier yesterday by Bali's governor, I Made Pastika. Mr Pastika said the threat was no higher than usual.However, Mr Pastika said that, on an island such as Bali, with so many entry points, it would "never ever" be able to be declared "clean," even by the best security forces in the world.
Australian authorities would not comment on what measures they were taking to ensure the security of high-profile Australians.
''We are aware of security risks and we are working closely with the Indonesian government to ensure all necessary precautions are taken,'' a spokesman for the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, Jason Clare, said.
with Dylan Welch
