Brumby cancels Mumbai visit following terror alert

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Sept 20 (PTI) Victorian Premier John
Brumby, who will arrive in India this week, has cancelled his
planned trip to Mumbai following a travel advisory from the
Australian Government that terrorists may be planning terror
attacks in the city.

Brumby will now spend more time in New Delhi after
omitting Mumbai from his itinerary for Wednesday and Thursday.

In a statement on Sunday, Brumby said he had altered
his itinerary after Australia's foreign affairs department on
Friday issued a travel advisory warning about the possibility
of attacks in Mumbai.

"Credible information indicates that terrorists may be
planning further attacks in Mumbai, including at places
frequented by tourists, in September or October 2009," the
warning had said.

DFAT's overall level of travel advice for India has
not changed from urging a high degree of caution.

Brumby's trip follows Deputy Prime Minister and
Education Minister Julia Gillard's visit to India as part of
Australia's efforts to assure Indians, particularly students,
of safety in the wake of a series of racial attacks. (MORE)
PTI