Terror fears keep Victorian PM off Mumbai

Brumby will now spend 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 places frequented by tourists, in September or October 2009,” the warning had said.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’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 there.