Threat closes UK Jakarta embassy

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The British embassy in the Indonesia capital, Jakarta, has temporarily shut after receiving a specific bomb threat, British officials have said.

All services at the embassy and the neighbouring consulate have been suspended with immediate effect.

The nearby Thai embassy was also reported to have received a threat.

Foreign embassies and international hotels have been on high alert in the city after being targeted in a series of attacks.

Heightened security

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jakarta says very few details have been released about the threat, or who may be responsible.

The British embassy said staff were unlikely to go to work in the embassy and consulate buildings for the foreseeable future.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement: "Services will remain suspended while we monitor the security situation. Obviously the safety of staff and visitors is paramount."

The Foreign Office said the closure would not affect the aid operation in the Indonesian province of Aceh, the region hit by last month's tsunami.

The embassy closure follows an alert across Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year period after intelligence agencies warned of possible imminent attacks on Western and local targets, including churches.

Australia, Britain and the US had all warned of a possible attack in Indonesia over the holiday season, with Australia's warning specifically mentioning a possible strike on a Hilton hotel.

The most recent attack was on Australia's Jakarta embassy in September, which killed nine people, including a suicide bomber.

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