US warns of more terrorist attacks in Indonesia

The US has warned that extremists may be planning more terrorist attacks against its interests in Indonesia.

The US has warned that extremists may be planning more terrorist attacks against its interests in Indonesia.

The warning came as the Southeast Asian country's defence minister said he was now "extremely sure" that the al-Qaida-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah was behind this week's hotel bombing in Jakarta.

"The potential remains throughout Indonesia for violence and terrorist actions against US citizens and interests," the US State Department said.

"Extremist elements may be planning additional attacks targeting US interests in Indonesia, particularly US government officials and facilities."

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The State Department said it would increase security at its official facilities but warned citizens that terrorists will likely seek "softer targets".

Tuesday's car bomb at the Marriott Hotel - the site of many US Embassy functions - in central Jakarta killed 10 people and injured almost 150.

Officials have already said Jakarta's hotel attack was similar to last October's Bali blasts which killed 202 people.

The perpetrators in both attacks used the same kind of explosives and tried to scrape off the identification numbers on the vehicles used. They also mobile phones to set the bombs off.

The severed head of a suspected suicide bomber, Asmar Latin Sani, was found in the wreckage at the hotel.

Authorities said a photograph of Sani's reconstructed head was identified by two alleged Jemaah Islamiyah operatives currently in custody - and that the two men admitted to having recruited him to the organisation.

AP