Threat of Christmas terror attacks 'high'

The threat of terrorist attacks targeting Westerners in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year holidays is very high, the US embassy said today, warning of possible kidnappings, shootings or suicide bombings.

Maps and explosives obtained in a police raid on a terrorist’s hideout last month indicated the al Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah was in the advanced stages of planning attacks, the embassy said in an e-mailed message to citizens.