Oil Tanker Strait of Malacca
Malaysia and Indonesia said on Thursday they are stepping up security in the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, following the Singapore navy’s warning of possible attacks on oil tankers.
The Singapore navy “has received indication a terrorist group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Malacca Strait,” the Singapore Shipping Association said in an advisory. “The terrorists intent is probably to achieve widespread publicity and showcase that it remains a viable group.”
It did not name a group or say where the intelligence came from.
Malaysia’s coast guard said it was increasing security measures in the narrow waterway that tankers use to carry oil from the Middle East to Japan and China.
Indonesia is intensifying patrols there, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told Reuters. “We will increase the security and step up patrols in that area. Oil tankers can pass, but we will increase our readiness.”
