Two messages received threatening to bomb the U.S. and Australian embassies in Jakarta

Indonesian authorities confirmed on 4 November 2008 that two messages threatening to bomb the U.S. and Australian embassies in Jakarta have been received. Reports indicate that officials received anonymous text messages from a mobile phone. Police officers stated that the threats warned that the two embassy buildings would be bombed if the upcoming executions of the Bali bombers proceed as planned. According to an official Indonesian government announcement, the three bombers are set to be executed in early November. A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy told reporters that the threat is being taken seriously and an investigation into the warning has been opened. The embassy did not suspend services after the threat emerged. Meanwhile, security has been increased around President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after he received an assassination threat. The threat, posted on an extremist Web site, stated that should the Bali bombers be executed they will kill the president, vice-president and other government officials. Although the letter was electronically signed by the three bombers on death row, it is not likely that they could have posted the threat due to their incarceration.