Two Australian defence force aircraft and specialist medical staff were in Bali last night to support Australian victims of Saturday's bombing and help them return home.
Three Australians were killed and at least 14 injured in what prime minister John Howard described as "mindless terrorism". "I express my sympathy and condolences to those and just say on behalf of all the Australian people how sad we are that the pursuit of a legitimate, simple overseas holiday has once again been brutally interrupted by this violent, mindless act of terrorism," Mr Howard said.
However, he said there is no evidence to suggest Australians were specifically targeted in the bombs. Australia's attorney-general Philip Ruddock said it is likely there will be a domestic terrorist attack. "I think there is a high likelihood that some event will happen in Australia. I don't want it to happen," he said.
Australian woman Vicky Griffiths, who has ball bearings in her back from the bomb, told ABC television she thought the first blast was a gas bottle exploding and was about to run when the second blast hit. "I was thrown, picked up, because the blast was to my back and I was picked up and thrown over the table and to the ground, and I landed on someone and I don't know who, and then [ my husband] Kim came and got me and dragged me along the sand - I couldn't get up - and then we finally got up and ran down to the water's edge.
"A lovely Balinese man came and helped us and he helped us up to his car. I could walk okay. But I didn't realise that I had the ball bearings in my back until they'd X-rayed me."
Travel agents were inundated with calls yesterday from people looking to postpone or cancel trips to Bali. With the Australian government warning people to defer non-essential travel to the island, many travel agents and airlines are offering full refunds to people booked to travel to Bali.