Britons told to flee Indonesia

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Britons were today told to get out of Indonesia after new information about the terrorist threat following the Bali bombs.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw issued urgent new travel advice and warned that any Britons who insisted on remaining should take "extreme caution".

Non-essential British Embassy staff and their dependents are being given the option to leave immediately, although most are expected to stay to help with the crisis.

Until today Britons were being told not to travel to Bali and to exercise caution in the rest of Indonesia. The new guidance is the most serious warning since British citizens were advised to leave India and Pakistan earlier this year when war was expected.

In a statement, Mr Straw said: "In the light of further information and consideration I am now agreed that we should advise against all travel to Indonesia and recommend that all British citizens should consider leaving if their presence is not essential.

"British citizens who remain should exercise extreme caution in public places including clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship [and] outdoor recreational venues." The alert mirrors advice given by Australia today telling its citizens to leave following what it called " disturbing new information".

The exact threat was not specified.

 

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