Indonesia police: US embassy targeted by terrorists

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta was one of several high-profile objectives targeted by an Islamist militant group, according to Indonesian authorities.

The Indonesia National Police arrested 11 people over the weekend on suspicion that they were planning to attack the U.S. and Australian embassies, the U.S. Consulate in Surabaya and the Indonesian headquarters of U.S. mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, The New York Times reported. 

The alleged would-be attackers are believed to be part of the Sunni Movement for Indonesian Society, or Hasmi, a splinter group from al Qaeda's Jemaah Islamiya affiliate, which claimed responsibility for the Bali bombings in 2002 that killed 202 people. 

U.S. embassies around the Muslim world are on high alert following attacks last month in 20 countries, one of which left four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador, dead in Libya. In a statement Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia warned American citizens to be on their guard.

“We have been in close touch with the police, and welcome their quick action to counter this threat,” the embassy said. “We recommend that American citizens in Indonesia maintain security situational awareness.

“As always, we advise American citizens to avoid large crowds and other gatherings that might turn violent. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and provide further updates, if needed.”