Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop condemned the attacks that took place in Jakarta on Thursday (January 14), and has offered assistance if Indonesia asks for it.
“I confirm that the Australian Government condemns these horrific attacks and that we stand with Indonesia in countering terrorism and we’ll do what we can to support them in the investigation as to how this occurred and who is responsible. I have been able to confirm that at this point, no Australians have been affected by this attack and our embassy in Jakarta – and I’ve spoken to our ambassador – has confirmed that all Australian and locally based staff attached to the embassy are safe, as are their families. We have no reports of any Australians being involved at this point,” she said on the Nine Network’s Today program on Friday (January 15) morning.
Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the heart of Indonesia’s capital in an assault claimed by Islamic state, the first time the radical group has targeted the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Seven people were killed despite multiple blasts and a gunfight, five of them were the attackers themselves.
“We’ve offered law enforcement, intelligence, security support should they need it. Australia and Indonesia already cooperate to a great degree on counter-terrorism. In fact, I signed a further counter-terrorism memorandum of understanding with Retno Marsudi in Sydney, last month. So, we also have an Australian Federal Police team based in Jakarta and we’ve offered support Indonesia may need in relation to these attacks,” Bishop added. (Reuters)
