Asian cities react calmly to a terror warning
- From: pluto <pluto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:58:14 +0800
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/26/news/terror.php
Asian cities react calmly to a terror warning
Reuters, Agence France-Presse
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2005
HONG KONG Asian financial capitals reacted calmly Friday but with
determination to a warning from Paris that Al Qaeda could be planning an
attack in the region to undermine investor confidence.
The warning from Jean-Louis Bruguière, a senior French terrorism
investigator, has not led Hong Kong to change its assessment of such a
possibility, a Hong Kong Police spokesman, Alfred Ma, said Friday. "The
threat assessment remains moderate."
Ma said the police had long conducted antiterrorism exercises and would
continue to do so, and would remain in touch with law enforcement agencies
overseas regarding any possible threats.
Bruguière was quoted Friday in The Financial Times as warning that there
was reason to believe that Al Qaeda was preparing to attack an Asian
financial center. He named Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney as possibilities.
"We have several elements of information that make us think that countries
in this region, especially Japan, could have been targeted," Bruguière was
quoted as saying, without elaborating on the intelligence or nature of the
threat.
In Tokyo, which has the world's biggest public transport network, security
was stepped up after the London suicide bombings and attempted bombings in
July. Security has been high in the system since 1995, when a doomsday cult
let sarin gas loose in rush-hour trains, killing 12 people and wounding
thousands.
"It isn't clear how concrete this report is," Chief Cabinet Secretary
Hiroyuki Hosoda said of the latest warning, adding that Japan was
cooperating with other countries on security. "We would like to do our best
so that no such thing happens."
Japan may be particularly vulnerable because it sent combat troops to Iraq
to assist U.S. forces there.
Singapore said it took the Paris warning seriously even though it had no
information of any imminent danger.
"In the light of a global terrorist threat and our own experience in the
Jemaah Islamiyah episode, our security agencies have taken measures over
the last few years to strengthen security at our borders, key
infrastructure and iconic buildings," a spokesman for the Ministry of Home
Affairs said.
The spokesman said the government has worked with building managers and
owners, including those in the financial sector, to increase security.
"We recognize that, like any other country, Singapore can face a terrorist
attack," he said.
In Sydney, Prime Minister John Howard said Australia was fully aware that
it was a target, but was "well prepared" for any attack.
"The important thing is not to have an effective response mechanism after
the attack, the aim is to try and stop it occurring in the first place," he
said.
Howard added that this was why strong intelligence against terrorists was
important.
Sydney stepped up security on its public transport system after the London
attacks, and the city has a mass evacuation plan in place that involves the
private sector.
Aldo Borgu, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said he doubted
that Al Qaeda would have the capability to hit targets in Asia and said
attacks with economic objectives would mark "a change of direction."
HONG KONG Asian financial capitals reacted calmly Friday but with
determination to a warning from Paris that Al Qaeda could be planning an
attack in the region to undermine investor confidence.
The warning from Jean-Louis Bruguière, a senior French terrorism
investigator, has not led Hong Kong to change its assessment of such a
possibility, a Hong Kong Police spokesman, Alfred Ma, said Friday. "The
threat assessment remains moderate."
Ma said the police had long conducted antiterrorism exercises and would
continue to do so, and would remain in touch with law enforcement agencies
overseas regarding any possible threats.
Bruguière was quoted Friday in The Financial Times as warning that there
was reason to believe that Al Qaeda was preparing to attack an Asian
financial center. He named Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney as possibilities.
"We have several elements of information that make us think that countries
in this region, especially Japan, could have been targeted," Bruguière was
quoted as saying, without elaborating on the intelligence or nature of the
threat.
In Tokyo, which has the world's biggest public transport network, security
was stepped up after the London suicide bombings and attempted bombings in
July. Security has been high in the system since 1995, when a doomsday cult
let sarin gas loose in rush-hour trains, killing 12 people and wounding
thousands.
"It isn't clear how concrete this report is," Chief Cabinet Secretary
Hiroyuki Hosoda said of the latest warning, adding that Japan was
cooperating with other countries on security. "We would like to do our best
so that no such thing happens."
Japan may be particularly vulnerable because it sent combat troops to Iraq
to assist U.S. forces there.
Singapore said it took the Paris warning seriously even though it had no
information of any imminent danger.
"In the light of a global terrorist threat and our own experience in the
Jemaah Islamiyah episode, our security agencies have taken measures over
the last few years to strengthen security at our borders, key
infrastructure and iconic buildings," a spokesman for the Ministry of Home
Affairs said.
The spokesman said the government has worked with building managers and
owners, including those in the financial sector, to increase security.
"We recognize that, like any other country, Singapore can face a terrorist
attack," he said.
In Sydney, Prime Minister John Howard said Australia was fully aware that
it was a target, but was "well prepared" for any attack.
"The important thing is not to have an effective response mechanism after
the attack, the aim is to try and stop it occurring in the first place," he
said.
Howard added that this was why strong intelligence against terrorists was
important.
Sydney stepped up security on its public transport system after the London
attacks, and the city has a mass evacuation plan in place that involves the
private sector.
Aldo Borgu, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said he doubted
that Al Qaeda would have the capability to hit targets in Asia and said
attacks with economic objectives would mark "a change of direction."
=====================================================
cheers
pluto
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