SMS warning untraceable

A Text message apparently warning of a terrorist attack shortly before the Australian embassy in Jakarta was bombed may never have existed, Australian Federal Police admitted today, reports The Herald Sun .

"Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer both said last week that Indonesian police received an SMS warning last Thursday morning that terrorists had threatened to attack a western embassy if radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir was not released from jail.

Suicide bombers attacked the Australian embassy 45 minutes later, killing 10 people and injuring more than 180.

But Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Mick Keelty said today that authorities had been unable to trace the SMS message.

But Bashir, the spiritual head of Islamic terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah, accused the government of trying to smear his reputation and ride on the Jakarta tragedy.

"The text message was purported to smear his reputation. Where did Alexander Downer get this text message? When and what's the number?" Bashir's lawyer Adnan Wirawan said.

"We have to investigate this and discover who's lying and who's not."

Mr Howard said he did not regret releasing details of the message, saying he was compelled to share important information with the Australian public when it came to his attention."

Related article: Text Message Warned of Blast.

emily | 3:45 PM | SMS and Politics |
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