MALAYSIA: U.S. EMBASSY IN KUALA LUMPUR CLOSED DUE TO THREAT OF POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACK ON 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS ON AMERICA

Record ID: 649160

  • Title: MALAYSIA: U.S. EMBASSY IN KUALA LUMPUR CLOSED DUE TO THREAT OF POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACK ON 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS ON AMERICA
  • Date: 11th September 2002
  • Summary: (W2)KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SV PAN MALAYSIAN NATIONAL DAY SIGNAGE AND BUSY ROAD TO UNITED STATES EMBASSY 0.12 2. SLV /SCU AMERICAN FLAG AT HALF MAST INSIDE EMBASSY GROUNDS (2 SHOTS) 0.19 3. CU/SV/PAN UP: MALAYSIAN PARAMILITARY POLICE WITH RIFLES (3 SHOTS) 0.35 4. SV POLICEMEN PATROLLING EMBASSY EXTERIOR; WS: POLICE OUTSIDE U.S. EMBASSY; SCU EMBASSY CREST (3 SHOTS) 0.50 5. SV: PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING SHOTS OF EMBASSY 0.54 6. SLV BARRIERS OUTSIDE U.S. EMBASSY; CU PULLOUT LINCOLN RESOURCE CENTRE SIGNAGE TO POLICEMAN; WIDE OF POLICEMAN ON DUTY OUTSIDE EMBASSY (3 SHOTS) 1.09 7. MV SECURITY GUARD WALKING TO BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION; SCU BRITISH UNION JACK FLAG AT HALF-MAST; ZOOM IN: BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION GUARDHOUSE WITH NOTICE; SLV PAN GUARDHOUSE WITH CARS ENTERING HIGH COMMISSION (4 SHOTS) 1.34 8. SLV POLICE TRUCKS OUTSIDE HIGH COMMISSION 1.39 9. SV: TOURIST OUTSIDE HIGH COMMISSION 1.48 10. MV: POLICEMEN PATROLLING OUTSIDE HIGH COMMISSION 1.55 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Reuters ID: LVAC2GVIEBMKLFSJ4F0ZCJ7KBBQA
  • Story Text: The U.S. Embassy in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur
    has been closed because of a threat of attack, the embassy
    said.

    The British High Commission also closed its visa and
    consular services as a precaution.


    The U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur was closed on
    Wednesday (September 11, 2002), the anniversary of last year's
    suicide strikes on U.S. cities.

    "Because of a credible and specific threat to the security
    of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the embassy will be
    closed on Wednesday, September 11 to review its security
    posture," the U.S. Embassy said in a press statement on
    Tuesday (Sept 10).

    The American flag few at half-mast in the embassy.

    Malaysian police threw a heavy security cordon around the
    U.S. embassy with armed paramilitary police patrolling the
    embassy.

    Police also blocked access roads to the embassy in
    downtown Kuala Lumpur.

    The United States also closed its embassy in Indonesia,
    the world's most populous Muslim nation, on Monday (September
    9) until further notice because of a threat of attack.

    The mainly Muslim Malaysia has backed the U.S. war on
    terror but criticised Washington's policies on Iraq and
    Afghanistan.

    The British High Commission, just a kilometre away from
    the U.S. Embassy, closed its consular and visa sections. Its
    Union Jack also flew at half-mast.

    In a statement pasted outside its walls, the British High
    Commission said: "Message to consular and visa section
    customers, We regret to inform you that we have considered it
    necessary to close the consular and visa sections on 11
    September. We apologise for any inconvenience this will
    cause."
    Malaysian police also patrolled outside the High
    Commission as tourists and public were turned away.

    Press reports last week said the U.S. has asked Malaysia
    if it can interview a prisoner Washington thinks could help
    its case against accused September 11 conspirator Zacarias
    Moussaoui.

    The U.S. Justice Department had requested that Federal
    Bureau of Investigation officers be able to question Yazid
    Sufaat, a former army captain and businessman held by
    Malaysian authorities.

    Malaysian authorities are holding several dozen men they
    accuse of belonging to a network bent on creating a regional
    Muslim state including Indonesia and the southern Philippines.


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