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Terror rumours swirl around tourist spot
One of Bali's hottest tourist spots is rumoured to be one of its next terror targets. The Australian government has upped it travel warnings about swanky Seminyak after panicky mobile phone text messages swirled round the expatriate community. On Tuesday security was tight at Ku De Ta, a beachside sunset haven for the well-heeled. Inside, though, western tourists lounged on sun beds and nibbled at plates of designer food. Management was not available for an interview, but a staff member, fearful of post-bomb job losses and reluctant to be named, took time out amid the chic ponds and shaded column gardens to talk. Lunchtime, he said, remains busy in the wake of Bali's bombings on Saturday, but night-time trade has fallen off by 30-40 per cent. The open-air restaurant and bar beefed up security since the 2002 terrorist attack on nightspots in Kuta that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians Security guards conduct bomb checks on all vehicles entering the property. They search the bags of arriving guests and scour the beach. Police officers are also on-site. But the staffer said management had ordered extra security staff following the latest attack. "We have always had the best security in Bali, but now we have upgraded it," he said. At least 22 people, including four Australians, were killed and 120 injured in triple suicide bombings at nearby Kuta and Jimbaran Bay. Citing the potential for more attacks, the Australian government on Monday night upgraded its advice, warning Australians to avoid the island and specifically mentioned Seminyak. Ku De Ta is the glamorous heart of the area which helped put the village on the map when it opened five years ago. International DJs spin tunes as buff-bodied revellers and bikini-clad waifs take to the grassy dance floor overlooking the ocean. Few baulk at the prices for top quality food and wine amid sleek architecture, designer boutiques and top-notch spas. All of this has made Seminyak - little more than a cluster of rice paddies until foreign investment poured in over the last few years - the most sought-after destination in Bali with prices often marked in US dollars or euros. But sadly, high-profile demand also creates high-profile targets |
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Tuesday
Oct 4 18:01 AEST