13 Sep 2005

Fiji police on high alert for Al Qaeda attack

7:10 pm on 13 September 2005

Fiji's police commissioner says regional police forces are on high alert for any Al Qaeda terror attack.

Andrew Hughes says Special Branch networks are active and community strategies in place.

Radio Fiji reports that Mr Hughes gave the assurance following the broadcast of a warning video in America in which an Al Qaeda operative said Melbourne and Los Angeles were their next targets.

Mr Hughes says the threat is being assessed by the authorities in Australia and if there is any cause for concern for other countries including Fiji, then they will be informed.

Mr Hughes says Melbourne is very close to home and he hopes that nothing eventuates.

He says security agencies in both Australia and New Zealand are actively monitoring developments in the region.

Mr Hughes says the acting deputy commissioner of the Australian Federal Police is in Fiji for the regional commissioners' conference and this will provide an opportunity to consider the implications for the region of a direct attack so close to the Pacific.