Saturday, October 01, 2005
BALI BLASTS
Another apparent bomb attack in Bali:
At least three Western tourists have been injured in a series of bombings in Bali, almost three years to the day that terrorists killed 200 people in a similar attack.
A local radio station on the Indonesian island said the explosions went off along Jimbaran beach and in Kuta, both popular tourist destinations.
It was in the town of Kuta on October 12, 2002 that terrorists associated with al Qaida set off two bombs close to each other that killed 202 people - including 26 Britons - and injured another 209.
UPDATE. Eight dead and 13 injured, reports the Associated Press.
UPDATE II. Several victims are being sent to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, where a burns unit was donated by the Australian government following the 2002 Bali bombings.
UPDATE III. The Jakarta Post now reports nine dead and 40 injured, while Reuters has the death toll at 12—many of them foreigners.
UPDATE IV. Indian media reports 30 dead in three explosions, and says a hunt has begun for Malaysian Islamists:
Police were searching for two Malaysian fugitives - Azahari and Noordin - accused of being behind the attacks. The two are believed to be senior members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror group.
UPDATE V. Azahari Husin and Noordin Top are both wanted over last year’s attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta that killed 10.
UPDATE VI. Two Americans are among at least 19 dead, according to AP.
UPDATE VII. An Australian is among 23 dead, reports AFP.
UPDATE VIII. A Japanese woman is among those killed.
UPDATE IX. Sangla Hospital says eight Australians, two Americans and 28 Indonesians have been admitted with injuries. The Department of Foreign Affairs number to call for Australian information: 1800 002 214.