Indonesia under high risk of terror attack
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-22 14:57

The U.S. Embassy in Indonesia warned Americans on Thursday of a high risk of terrorist attacks in the country over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Earlier Indonesian authorities warned that terrorists may be planning to kidnap foreigners in the days ahead.

The embassy said a police raid on a Jemaah Islamiyah hideout last month turned up information indicating the al-Qaida-linked group was in the advanced stages of planning attacks on foreigners.

"In recent years terrorist attacks have occurred in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season," the embassy said in an e-mail to U.S. citizens. "The possibility of terrorist attacks appears even higher this year."

On Christmas Eve 2000 bombs exploded at churches across Indonesia, killing 19 people. Suspicion fell on Jemaah Islamiyah, now blamed for several other attacks since then, including the 2002 and 2005 bombings on the resort island of Bali. More than 250 people have died.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, Militant Islam is on the rise, but most people here practice a moderate form of the faith.