US Embassy in Indonesia Issues Security Warning for Surabaya
Jakarta. The Embassy of the United States in Indonesia issued a security warning on Saturday for hotels and banks in Surabaya associated with the US.
"The US Embassy has been made aware of a potential threat against US-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya, Indonesia," a statement on the embassy website said. "The US Embassy recommends heightened vigilance and awareness of one's surroundings when visiting such facilities."
The statement did not expand on the nature of the threat.
The US embassy declined to provide more detail when contacted on Saturday evening beyond a background statement on US security messages.
"The safety and welfare of US citizens abroad is among our top priorities," the statement read. "To this end, our Embassies and Consulates overseas routinely issue warden messages to ensure they are informed on issues of importance to their safety and welfare."
The US embassy in Jakarta issued four security messages between July 18 and Dec. 24, 2014.
A warden message on July 18 called for vigilance during ongoing demonstrations related to Israel's invasion of Gaza.
A message released on Oct. 18 advised US citizens to "avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations" during the inauguration of President Joko Widodo.
A message on Oct. 31 said "A recent anonymous posting on a Jihadist website encouraged attacks against American and other international schools in countries in the Middle East and Indonesia, among others." The US embassy said it was, however, "unaware of any specific, credible threat against any American school or individual in Indonesia."
And on Dec. 24 the embassy published a warden message saying "Further to the Worldwide Travel Alert published on December 19, 2014, we advise US Citizens to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Gatherings at places of worship in such places as Poso and Solo have been, and may still be appealing targets for terrorists."
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