Several Bombs Explodes In Bali Tourist Areas

[Aussietraveller]

Several bombs explodes in Bali tourist areas, Foreigners among the victims

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters): -- An explosion rocked the Kuta beach tourist area of Indonesia's resort island of Bali, a police official said on Saturday.

"Our officers are on their way to the site. We don't know yet what happened exactly,' Ruda, an official at Bali police headquarters, told Reuters by telephone.

He had no details on damage or casualties.

Local television said there had been three explosions near tourist areas on Bali.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not a lot of news to hand on this at the moment, story is just breaking on the TV News in Australia.......

Edited October 1, 2005 by george

[george]

Deaths reported in Bali blasts

BALI: -- (AP) -- Several explosions occurred almost simultaneously Saturday in tourist areas of the Indonesian resort island Bali, killing at least two people and injuring many others, police and Indonesian media reported.

Foreigners were among the victims, witnesses said.

"I helped lift up the bodies, there was blood everywhere," I Wayan Kresna, a witness, told El Shinta radio station, adding that at least two people were dead. "Many people have been brought to the hospital."

Kresna said he witnessed the explosion at a seafood restaurant on Jimbaran beach, which is frequented by foreign tourists.

Another near-simultaneous explosion hit a shopping center in downtown Kuta, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) away.

Kuta was the site of October 2002 bomb attacks blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Bali police spokesman Lt. Col. Antonius Reniban could not say if Saturday's explosions were bombs.

"There have been some explosions in Jimbaran and Kuta area, but we cannot give any details," he said. "Police are still investigating."

Since the 2002 Bali blasts, Jemaah Islamiyah has been tied to at least two other bombings in Indonesia, both in the capital, Jakarta.

Those blasts, one at the J.W. Marriott hotel in 2003 and the other outside the Australian Embassy in 2004, killed at least 23.

Western and Indonesian intelligence agency have consistently warned the group was plotting more attacks.

Last month, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was especially worried that the network was on the brink of another blast.

--AP 2005-10-01

[george]

Several bombs explode in Bali tourist areas

BALI, Indonesia: -- Several explosions occurred almost simultaneously Saturday in tourist areas of Bali island, injuring at least three foreigners, police and a private Indonesian radio station said.

At least three blasts occurred along Jimbaran beach, which is lined with seafood restaurants commonly frequented by tourists, El Shinta radio reported. Witnesses saw at least three injured foreigners leaving the scene, the station said.

Another explosion hit downtown Kuta, about 18 miles away, the radio said.

Bali police spokesman Lt. Col. Antonius Reniban confirmed that several blasts went off, but he could not say if they were bombs.

"There have been some explosions in Jimbaran and Kuta area, but we cannot give any details," he said. "Police are still investigating."

In 2002, bombings blamed on the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people, mostly foreigners, on Bali island.

--Agencies 2005-10-01

[george]

Deaths reported in Bali blasts

Foreigners among the victims

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Several explosions occurred almost simultaneously Saturday in tourist areas of the Indonesian resort island Bali, killing at least two people and injuring many others, police and Indonesian media reported.

Foreigners were among the victims, witnesses said.

"I helped lift up the bodies, there was blood everywhere," I Wayan Kresna, a witness, told El Shinta radio station, adding that at least two people were dead. "Many people have been brought to the hospital."

Kresna said he witnessed an explosion at a seafood restaurant on Jimbaran beach, which is frequented by foreign tourists.

Another near-simultaneous explosion hit the Rajas restaurant in a bustling outdoor shopping center of downtown Kuta, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) away.

The restaurant was filled with local and foreign diners, said El Shinta, adding that both floors of the two-story building were badly damaged in the blast.

Kuta was the site of October 2002 bomb attacks blamed on the al Qaeda-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah that killed 202 people.

Bali police spokesman Lt. Col. Antonius Reniban could not say if Saturday's explosions were bombs.

"There have been some explosions in Jimbaran and Kuta area, but we cannot give any details," he said. "Police are still investigating."

Several people were admitted to one hospital near Kuta with injuries, said a woman who answered the phone at Sangalh Hospital, but she did not know how many.

Since the 2002 Bali blasts, Jemaah Islamiyah has been tied to at least two other bombings in Indonesia, both in the capital, Jakarta. Those blasts, one at the J.W. Marriott hotel in 2003 and the other outside the Australian Embassy in 2004, killed at least 23.

Western and Indonesian intelligence agency have consistently warned the group was plotting more attacks. Last month, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was especially worried that the network was on the brink of another blast.

-- AP 2005-10-01

[george]

Several foreigners dead in Bali bomb blasts

BALI: -- A series of explosions which rocked Bali tonight killed several people, an Australian witness said from one of the hospitals filled with injured from the blasts.

Police tonight locked down central Kuta after at least one explosion ripped through the main square at about 8.15pm and up to four other blasts tore through the popular tourist strip of Jimbaran Bay, which is lined with restaurants and shops.

Bali police chief general Made Mangu Pastika arrived on the scene a short time ago to tour the blast area, centred around Raja's bar and restaurant.

Pastika refused to say whether the explosions were the result of another terrorist strike on the popular holiday island, which has only just recovered from deadly blasts in 2002 that killed 202 mostly foreign holidaymakers, including 88 Australians.

The sister of convicted of drug smuggler Schapelle Corby told AAP tonight that most of the injured had been taken to Graha Asih Hospital, near Kuta.

At least three to four people had died there as she watched, Mercedes Corby said, while between 30 and 40 others had been injured.

Police had not confirmed any deaths or injuries tonight.

But the area around the blasts sites had been cordoned off in both Kuta and Jimbaran and witnesses said the blasts had blown out shop windows up to 50 metres away.

Authorities said several blast victims were tonight being moved to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, where the Australian government built a specialist burns unit following the 2002 attacks, blamed on al-Qaeda-linked terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah.

Mercedes Corby said the Kuta Hospital was not coping tonight with the injured.

-- news.com.au 2005-10-01

[craigt3365]

BALI, Indonesia - Several bombs exploded almost simultaneously Saturday in tourist areas of Bali island, causing dozens of casualties, authorities and Indonesian media said. A police official told private El Shinta radio that at least 30 people were injured or killed.

[george]

At least nine dead as Bali hit by blasts

BALI: -- At least nine people have been killed in a series of explosions on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Many others were reported to have been injured in the blasts at Kuta beach - the area most popular with Western tourists - and at Jimbaran beach.

There is no word yet on what caused the blasts which happened just before 2000 local time (1200GMT).

Nearly three years ago, 202 people died in nightclub bomb attacks blamed on Islamic extremists.

According to the Associated Press news agency, a Bali police spokesman was unable to say whether the explosions had been caused by bombs.

"There have been some explosions in Jimbaran and Kuta area, but we cannot give any details," Lt Col Antonius Reniban said. "Police are still investigating."

Local El Shinta radio said witnesses saw at least three bloodied foreigners at Jimbaran beach - which is lined with seafood restaurants frequented by tourists.

Another witness in Jimbaran told Metro TV "It's very crowded, people are still being evacuated."

He added that the blast took place close to the Four Seasons Hotel.

--BBC 2005-10-01

[LivinLOS]

My little brother just left BKK yesterday on route to Bali via Sing.. Is currently getting a TG an indo visa and was due to set off tonight..

He is taking up residency there !!! Kinda worrying..

[pal78]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1174790

[bartender100]

BBC saying 19 dead now.

[george]

Twelve dead as Bali hit by blasts

Medical teams have been attending to wounded foreigners

BALI: -- At least 12 people have been killed in a series of explosions on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Many others were reported to have been injured in the blasts at Kuta beach - the area most popular with Western tourists - and at Jimbaran beach.

There is no firm word yet on what caused the blasts which happened just before 2000 local time (1200 GMT).

Nearly three years ago, 202 people died in nightclub bomb attacks in Kuta that were blamed on Islamic extremists.

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told the BBC there had been two explosions at Jimbaran and another in Kuta, within about 10 minutes.

He said the Kuta blast "took place in a very crowded area, so obviously if it is confirmed as a bomb, then it is aimed at causing as many casualties and victims as possible, it would appear."

A British tourist who was in a building next door to a restaurant that was hit in Kuta said there was a "thunderous boom" that caused all the shop's windows to blow out.

"It was just chaos," Daniel Martin told the BBC.

He said there were people lying in the streets with serious injuries, with everyone pitching in to help.

A hospital official told Reuters news agency that at least 35 wounded foreigners had been taken to the island's main hospital. However he was unable to say whether foreigners were among the dead.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has condemned the blasts, Reuters news agency reports.

His spokesman said he was heading to the island.

Warnings

The blasts come less than two weeks before the third anniversary of bomb attacks that killed 202 people - many of them foreigners holidaying in Bali.

The 12 October 2002 bombings have been blamed on Jemaah Islamiah (JI), - a south-east Asian militant group which is said to have links with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

JI is also suspected of being behind a suicide bombing at the Marriott hotel in Jakarta that killed 11 people in 2003, and a suicide bombing at the Australian embassy last September in which eight people were killed.

The BBC's Tim Johnston in Jakarta says the authorities had warned that militants had been planning further attacks on Western targets in Indonesia, although there had been no particular alerts over the past few days.

--BBC 2005-10-01

[danone]

I wonder why thailand hasnt been hit yet at a tourist location ...

[meadish_sweetball]

I was just planning a holiday to Bali myself. Speechless. My deepest condoleances to those affected.

[khall64au]

I wonder why thailand hasnt been hit yet at a tourist location ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........!!!!

[LivinLOS]

Just heard more from my brother.. My mistake, he is not on route he is on the Island..

I thought he was still getting visa's in Sing when he called.. Seemed they bounced Sing to Bali in a day..

Economically the island is really on the breadline.. He stays in a collection of bungalows owned by an old Indo lady.. He says she is crying and fearful the tourist drop off again (bound too) in hock to the bank and nearly lost the place to the repo man last year but numbers picked up and she just got through.. I know economically isnt the biggest concern right now compared to loss of life but 10 or 20 farangs dies and 100s or 1000s of Balinese have hardship through no livelyhood..

[george]

BBC now confirms at least 19 dead:

Nineteen killed in Bali bombings

BALI: -- A series of bomb attacks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali has killed at least 19 people.

Many others were injured in at least three blasts which took place just before 2000 local time (1200 GMT).

--BBC 2005-10-01

[razino]

I wonder why thailand hasnt been hit yet at a tourist location ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We, the Malaysian bikers, have at least 3 coming charity bike ride in Thailand, 2 at the South (Betong and Songkhla) and one at Chiang Mai. We hope the situation will get better and better in Thailand. No politics.... no war..only bikes...

[george]

CNN Update:

19 reported dead in Bali blasts

About 50 wounded

Terror in Paradise

BALI: -- A string of blasts on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Saturday killed at least 19 people and wounded about 50 others, hospital officials said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told CNN it appeared the blasts were "the work of terrorists."

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Austrialia's ABC radio that one Australian was among those killed.

The blasts happened in Jimbaran and Kuta, the top tourist spots on the island, and Natalegawa said reports indicated the blasts appeared to have occurred just minutes apart.

Video of the scene in Kuta showed the glass windows of several upscale stores shattered, with glass littering the street, and the awning of Raja's Bar and Restaurant blown askew.

There have been local media reports that Westerners were among the casualties.

Kuta is where two powerful bombs detonated near several nightclubs on October 12, 2002, killing 202 people, most of them Australian and Indonesian.

That attack was blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah, which has ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently issued a warning that terrorist cells inside the country were still active, despite hundreds of arrests.

The blasts also come after recent warnings from several other governments, including the United States, of a high terrorist threat to foreigners in Indonesia as the holy Muslim month of Ramadan arrives early next week.

A report issued in early September warned that bin laden and his top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri may be planning a series of attacks in October, dubbed "The Great Ramadan Offensive."

On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta reiterated its warden's message issued in May, which said the threat of terrorism is high and that Americans there should be vigilant.

"Attacks could occur at anytime and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably American or other western facilities or businesses in Indonesia," the message said.

The island of Bali -- a popular spot for tourists across the world -- is actually a Hindu enclave in Indonesia, which is the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Natalegawa said he was confident authorities would find the attackers.

"We know what it takes to bring the perpetrators to justice because our success rate ... has been rather good," he said.

--CNN 2005-10-01

[yeti]

Just heard, the french ambassador counted 23 deads in hospital.

[Anon999]

I wonder why thailand hasnt been hit yet at a tourist location ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't wonder, just be very thankful it hasn't happened.

[george]

19 killed in Bali terror blasts

Unconfirmed reports say 23 people are dead

Gutted ... the remains of the Raja restaurant / AP

BALI: -- At least 19 people, including at least one Australian, have been killed and over 50 more injured in a series of terrorist bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Unconfirmed reports say 23 people are dead.

At least four bombs detonated in separate locations around the island, which was rocked by a terrorist attack in October 2002 which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

The bombs were detonated in restaurants in Kuta, Bali's main tourist town, and the nearby resort of Jimbaran Bay.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said at least one Australian was among the dead.

"There are reports that there could be between 30 and 40 injured and some reports are suggesting that there are nine or so dead but these numbers are very early and they could change significantly," he said.

"We know from experience the numbers unfortunately could turn out to be a good deal higher than that."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is checking the nationalities of the dead and injured.

Balinese police said the attacks were the work of terrorists. Jemaah Islamiah, an al-Qaeda linked terror network based in South-East Asia, is the most likely culprit.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudoyonho said he had been warned terrorists were planning an attack, Associated Press reported.

The latest bombs went off at about 7.30pm (9.30pm AEST) at two restaurants packed with foreign and Indonesian diners.

I Wayan Kresna said he witnessed the first bomb at a seafood restaurant on Jimbaran beach.

"I helped lift up the bodies," he told the private El Shinta radio station. "There was blood everywhere."

Another explosion hit the three-storey Raja restaurant in the busy outdoor shopping centre of Kuta, about 30 km away. Smoke poured from the building, which was badly damaged.

The exact number of blasts was not clear. Some witnesses said they heard at least two explosions at each location.

Since the 2002 Bali blasts, Jemaah Islamiah has been tied to at least two other bombings in Indonesia, both in the capital, Jakarta. Those blasts, one at the J. W. Marriott hotel in 2003 and the other outside the Australian Embassy in 2004, killed at least 23.

Western and Indonesian intelligence agency have consistently warned the group was plotting more attacks. Last month, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was especially worried the extremist network was about to carry out more attacks.

Ken Conboy, author of an upcoming book on South-East Asian terrorism, said tonight's bombings had all the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiah.

"It looks like Jemaah Islamiah," he said. "They saw the 2002 Bali bombing as their only true success because it inflicted foreign casualties and the collateral damage weren't Muslims."

--news.com.au, AFP and Reuters

[george]

BBC now reports 22 dead, and counting.

A hospital official told Reuters news agency that at least 35 wounded foreigners had been taken to the island's main hospital. However he was unable to say whether foreigners were among the dead.

Local media said the police had found a number of other unexploded devices.

[NiceFarang]

22 reported dead in Bali explosions

Associated Press

Saturday October 1, 2005

Bombs exploded almost simultaneously today in two tourist areas of Bali, killing at least 22 people and wounding almost 50 others, police and hospital officials said. The victims included foreign tourists.

Indonesian President Suslio Bambang Yudhyono said terrorists were to blame and warned that more attacks were possible.

"We will hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice," he said after being briefed by top security officials, urging everyone "to be on alert."

Article continues

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The blasts at a crowded seafood restaurant on Jimbaran beach and a three-storey noodle and steak house in downtown Kuta came nearly three years to the day after twin bombings on the resort island claimed 202 lives, many of them foreign tourists.

The al-Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed in the October 12 2002 attack and was suspected in today's bombings as well.

The bodies of 22 people were counted in two hospitals - 11 at Sangla and 11 at Graha Asih - officials there said. Close to 50 others were admitted with injuries, many of them serious, including eight Australians and two Americans.

"It's a horrible scene," said a receptionist, Komang, at Graha Asih.

The nationalities of the dead in both hospitals were not immediately known.

The first bomb appears to have gone off at Jimbaran beach.

"I helped lift up the bodies," I Wayan Kresna told a local radio station. "There was blood everywhere."

Another explosion hit the three-storey Raja restaurant in the busy outdoor shopping centre of Kuta, about 30km (18m) away. Smoke poured from the building, which was badly damaged.

The bomb apparently went off on the second floor of the restaurant, said an AP reporter, who saw three bodies and at least five wounded. There was no crater outside the building, indicating it was not a car bomb.

The exact number of blasts was not clear. Some witnesses said they heard at least two explosions at each location.

Since the 2002 Bali blasts, Jemaah Islamiyah has been tied to at least two other bombings in Indonesia, both in the capital, Jakarta. Those blasts, one at the JW Marriott hotel in 2003 and the other outside the Australian Embassy in 2004, killed at least 23.

Western and Indonesian intelligence agencies have consistently warned the group was plotting more attacks. Last month, President Yudhoyono said he was especially worried the extremist network was about to carry out more attacks.

"I received information at the time that terrorists were planning an action in Jakarta and that explosives were ready," he said today.

Ken Conboy, author of an upcoming book on Southeast Asian terrorism, said today's bombings had all the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiyah.

"It looks like Jemaah Islamiyah," he said. "They saw the 2002 Bali bombing as their only true success because it inflicted foreign casualties and the collateral damage weren't Muslims."

[godforhire]

Terrible news! These terrorists are the scum of the earth. Reminds of what Blaise Pascal said, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."

Before coming to Thailand I spend quite a long time on Bali. After the 2002 blast, tourism and income dropped dramatically, with a lot of job losses. Just when tourism was getting back on its feed, this happens. My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives and the wonderful people of Bali.

[Cpt_M0ney_Sh0t]

As I was reading this forum I heard a HUGE explosion, probably a VBED (military acronym for Vehicle Born Explosive Device..car bomb) or possibly out going Artillery.... they get a lil hard to discern at times. I work in Iraq for the largest govt contractor. I see these kinds of bombings all the time. Soldiers go out and don't come back in; it's a fact of life out here. I accepted that when I signed my contract. However I won't accept that crap when I go to my beloved Thailand. I pray that this doesn’t reach Thailand. If America as a nation is my Mother, than Thailand is my wife. It would break my heart to tears if this happened in Pattaya. I hope that the Indonesians themselves weed out these misguided foolish bastards that prey upon the weak and optionless to do these hideous acts.

And they called the war between the US and USSR the cold war... I don't think it could get much colder than this vile brand of evil.

[The_Moog]

I work in Iraq for the largest govt contractor.

Way to go, Captain Halliburton.

[george]

Official death toll is now 24, according to BBC.

[Jimmy in Bangkok]

Just heard more from my brother.. My mistake, he is not on route he is on the Island..

I thought he was still getting visa's in Sing when he called.. Seemed they bounced Sing to Bali in a day..

Economically the island is really on the breadline.. He stays in a collection of bungalows owned by an old Indo lady.. He says she is crying and fearful the tourist drop off again (bound too) in hock to the bank and nearly lost the place to the repo man last year but numbers picked up and she just got through.. I know economically isnt the biggest concern right now compared to loss of life but 10 or 20 farangs dies and 100s or 1000s of Balinese have hardship through no livelyhood..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LivinLOS,

I am relieved to hear your brother is ok and wish you both all the best. Please get him out of there and to somewhere safe.

[Cpt_M0ney_Sh0t]

Heh Moog right on point.... I would make a snyde remark about them but I am paid WAY to much to risk upseting the good folks here in the land of contracts

[floridagirl]

Heh Moog right on point.... I would make a snyde remark about them but I am paid WAY to much to risk upseting the good folks here in the land of contracts

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to bust your a** here.

Just what do you mean you're not going to 'accept that crap' in Thailand? You work for one of the worst corporations on the planet (cuz the money's good, oh, I guess that makes it ok). You're part of the problem in Iraq. You're part of the reason Muslim extremists hate so much. You are a parasite. Thailand ihas many Muslims, do you care about them? Or do you just like going there to spend your little share of the money American taxpayers are donating to the Halliburton cause?