Australia warns of new Bali bomb threat

The Australian government warned today that there could be more terror attacks on the Indonesian island of Bali, as families of the victims of last year’s bombings there prepare to visit to mark the anniversary of the terror attacks.

The foreign ministry warned Australians to defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia, on the day police in Indonesia said they were hunting down terrorists who had prepared two bombs, and hoped to capture the suspects before the October 12 anniversary of last year’s Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 26 Britons.

“Our police officers, and our Bali bomb investigation team is still working very hard to find out where they are,” Bali police chief Maj Gen I Made Pastika said. “Hopefully all the people who are going to explode those bombs we can arrest before October 12.”

A foreign ministry spokesman said survivors of the blasts and victims’ families might ignore the Australian warning.

“The government’s mindful that many Australians deeply affected by the bombings may judge their attendance at these services to be essential travel,” the spokesman said.

Australian prime minister John Howard plans to attend a memorial service in Bali on October 12.

Earlier today, the nation’s intelligence watchdog said authorities had no warning of the deadly Bali terrorist attacks before they happened.

The government has been under pressure to explain whether it could have done more to warn Australians of the risk of terror attacks in the lead up to the Bali bombings, which have been described as the nation’s September 11.