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The 2005 Bali bombings were a series of explosions that occurred on October 1 , 2005 , in Bali , Indonesia . Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran and Kuta , both in south Bali. Twenty-three people were killed, including three bombers. THE EXPLOSIONS The Indonesian national news agency, ANTARA , reported that the first two explosions occurred at 6:50 p.m. local time, near a Jimbaran food court and the third at 7:00 p.m. in Kuta Town Square. Other reports claim that the blasts occurred at around 7:15 p.m. At least 3 blasts have been reported. One of the blasts is thought to have struck a crowded main square at central Kuta . Another two bombs exploded at Warung s along the Jimbaran beach, one of which was near the Four Seasons Hotel . These areas are generally popular with Western tourists (CNA) . Police claimed they found three unexploded bombs in Jimbaran [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1807787,00.html]. According to Indonesia's head of counter-terrorism, Major General Ansyaad Mbai, early evidence indicates that the attacks were carried out by at least three Mick Keelty said that the bombs used appear to have differed from previous blasts in that most deaths and injuries had been inflicted by Shrapnel , rather than chemical explosion. A medical officer's X-rays showed foreign objects described as "pellets" in many victims' bodies and a victim reported Ball Bearings lodged in her back. {Link without Title} The bombings occurred the same day that Indonesia cut its fuel subsidies resulting in gas prices rising by 125% and just two days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and 11 days before the third anniversary of the 2002 Bali Bombing . The attack came during the school holiday period in some states of Australia , when an estimated 7,500 Australians are believed to have been visiting Bali. CASUALTIES The latest report cites 20 dead and between 101 to 129 injured. {Link without Title} Some earlier reports put the number of fatalities as between 26 to 36 people, but those figures have since been lowered. Among those killed are 15 Indonesians, 4 Australians, and a Japanese national, not counting the 3 suicide bombers. The wounded included many Indonesians, 19 Australians, 6 South Koreans, 6 Americans, 4 Japanese, 3 Canadians and 1 Briton. As there were no records at the hospitals or Morgue s on the locations from where the victims arrived, it is not possible to determine the casualty figures at each blast location separately. Most of the casualties were sent to Bali's to Singapore, while other casualties, among them Australians, Japanese and an Indonesian, were evacuated to treatment in Darwin, Australia aboard Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules . Following the 2002 Bali Bombings , in which more Australians than any other nationals were killed and injured, and the 2004 Bombing Of Australia's Embassy in Jakarta , the latest attacks received extensive coverage in Australia and were denounced by some officials, such as Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley , as an attack on Australians. {Link without Title} PRIOR WARNINGS Indonesian authorities were expecting such an event, after the Indonesian President warned of more bombings within the country, and the Australian Department Of Foreign Affairs had issued warnings two days before the event. However, the Australian Government has claimed that it received no specific prior warning of a terrorist attack being imminent in Bali. Minister Downer has also played down any knowledge of specific signs of the potential event, despite the DFAT warning on the last day of September. {Link without Title} DFAT has warned Australians against non-essential travel to Indonesia since before the 2002 attacks - a warning still in effect. The Department advises travellers against congregating in areas popular with Western tourists. In May of 2005, the US State Department issued a Travel Warning against non-essential trips to Indonesia, the travel warning was last updated November 18th, 2005. {Link without Title} A Philippine security official said that for months intelligence officials in Southeast Asia had received information that the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group was orchestrating a major strike, possibly in the Philippines or Indonesia, but were unable to uncover the plot's details in time to prevent it. {Link without Title} The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 's National News Radio network reported on October 3 that several Australian tourists had heard rumours about a planned bombing, prompting Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley to urge the Australian government to form closer intelligence ties with Indonesia . SUSPECTS footage captures one of the suspected Bombers walking past diners moments before one of the blasts. ( Associated Press Television News)]] The attacks bear the hallmarks of the active terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah (JI), an organisation linked to Al-Qaeda , which is believed to be responsible for several bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali Nightclub Bombing , the 2003 Marriott Hotel Bombing and the 2004 Australian Embassy Bombing . Islamist Terrorist groups are often noted for their repeated choice of site for bombings. Al-Qaeda struck the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001 ; they also attacked the same location In 1993 . Rohan Gunaratna , head of terrorism research at Singapore's Institute Of Defence And Strategic Studies , told Agence France-Presse that "The only group that has the intention and capability to mount a coordinated and simultaneous attack against a western target in Indonesia is Jemaah Islamiyah ." {Link without Title} Although a link to JI has not yet been confirmed, the bombings were quickly condemned as terrorist attacks by the authorities. Police Major General Ansyaad Mbai, a top Indonesian anti-terrorism official, told the , a bomb maker whose wife was sentenced to three years gaol for harbouring him. {Link without Title} Azahari was killed in a police raid in November 2005, while Noordin remains on the run. Motivations for the bombings remain unclear. Some, such as the Australian Prime Minister, have suggested the attacks were intended to undermine Indonesia's moderate democractic government. Moreover, media organisations have suggested that the attack was planned to correspond with massive fuel price increases in Indonesia, so as to maximise economic and political damage. On the contrary, Dr Sidney Jones , of the International Crisis Group , believes that it was not an attempt to undermine democracy "per se", but rather an example of jihadist extremism: "I think they very much see the world in a black and white way, us against them, Muslims against infidels... see that the infidels led by the United States as part of a Christian-Zionist conspiracy are out to persecute and attack and eliminate Muslims around the world, and therefore, have to fight back." However, in common with the Prime Minister, Dr Jones believes the attack was indiscriminate and not an attack on Australians "per se". She suggested Bali was selected as the site of the attacks because there was less chance of Indonesian Muslims being killed, and there was "a chance of getting a few foreigners". [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1473775.htm Following the attacks Abu Bakar Bashir , who is alleged to be JI's spiritual leader, released a statement from his prison cell, condemning the attack. But he added that the bombings were a sign of God's displeasure with the Indonesian government. He said: "I suggest the government bring themselves closer to God by implementing his rules and laws because these happenings are warnings from God for all of us." {Link without Title} Bashir's statement does reveal some discontent with the current moderate Indonesian Government, lending credence to the theory that the bombings were an attempt to undermine it. INVESTIGATION , October 3 , 2005 ]] Indonesian police believed that three suicide bombers carried out the bombings. A presidential spokesman Dino Djalal said that the police found a total of "six legs and three heads but no middle bodies, and that's the strong sign of suicide bombers." Photos of the three heads were published in The Jakarta Post on Monday, October 3 , 2005 . Initially, there were conflicting reports on the number of bombs; but later, the police confirmed only three bombs. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/international/asia/02bali.html?hp&ex=1128312000&en=8fb20a0ee05adc3b&ei=5094&partner=homepage An amateur video capturing the scene at the restaurant in Kuta showed one bomber with a backpack walking inside just seconds before a huge explosion. {Link without Title} In the following Monday, on October 3, 2005, the police issued an appeal to the public to help identify the suspected suicide bombers whose dismembered remains were found at the scene. Photos of the dead suspects were distributed widely and a hotline was set up to receive tips. According to Banten Police Chief Senior Commissioner Badrodin Haiti, the Indonesian police are seeking for five members of a ring led by Imam Samudra , who has been sentenced to death for his role in the 2002 Bali Bombings . Three of the five men had already served jail sentences for holding explosives belonging to Samudra. They were under police surveillance but had now disappeared from their homes. {Link without Title} On October 9 2005 , police in Bali arrested a man, identified by the initial HS, who is allegedly a former roommate of one of the suicide bomber. {Link without Title} RESPONSE Indonesia , one of the sites of the blasts.]] medical personnel prepare the wounded for Medical Evacuation to Darwin, Australia .]]
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