Suspicious package at Australian Consulate in Bali

A bomb squad was dispatched to the Australian Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, to examine a suspicious red bag that was discovered at the building's security post on Thursday afternoon.

According to Bali Mobile Brigade (Brimob) chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ramdhani Hidayat, the bag, which had “Air Asia” written on it, was delivered by a man presumed to be Australian who reportedly went to the consulate to take care of his passport. He had asked security officers where to dispose of chemical materials.

However, he left the bag, which he said contained chemicals, when he left the consulate.

“We received the report at around 2:30 p.m.,” Ramdhani said.

The bomb squad immediately took the bag to Brimob headquarters and began searching for the man who left it.

“We have to examine the suspicious package to verify its contents. We do not know yet whether it is a bomb,” he added.

“The man came at around 12:30 local time,” said a consulate security officer who wished to remain anonymous.