Thai authorities are questioning a man believed to be a member of Hezbollah. The news comes as the US embassy issues terror alert for travel to the country.
The suspect, a Lebanese man, was arrested on Thursday following a tipoff from Israel about a potential terror attack in Bangkok. Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Chalerm Yoobamrung, made the announcement on Friday.
- Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung
He said that police were currently investigating information from the Israeli embassy about a possible attack from before the new year.
Mr Yoobamrung added that a second man was being followed, but did not want to elaborate on what happened to the other.
He indicated that Thailand had no strong evidence of an attack, adding: “Technically, the two men have not committed any crimes under the Thai law, so we could only use the immigration law to keep this one suspect in custody.”
The US embassy yesterday issued an emergency announcement saying that: “foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future. US citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of western tourists gather in Bangkok”.
Thailand’s defence minister, Yuthasak Sasiphrapha , said that officials did not release the information, due to the effect that the news could have on tourism and panic among local citizens.
He suggested that the US embassy was concerned about the welfare and safety of its citizens and that the officials from both nations were monitoring other individuals. Extra reinforcements of security officers have been placed as precautionary measures at locations often frequented by tourists, including Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Yuthasak also said that other possible targets may include the Israeli embassy and synagogues, while adding that intelligence gathered may point to attacks relating to US activities against Iran.
- The damaged car that belonged to an Iranian nuclear scientist in the capital of Tehran.
The US has been blamed by Iran for a series of assassinations of the country’s nuclear scientists, with the most recent taking place on Wednesday when Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan was killed in the Iranian capital of Tehran when a bomb attached to his car was detonated.
Hezbollah is a Shia mulsim group that has been carrying out attacks in the Middle East since the 1980s, with many who consider the group as a proxy for the current Iranian government.
It has been reported from a military source that the Israeli embassy had contacted the Thai government as early as December 22nd, with information that two or three suspects could be planning an attack in Thailand.
However, it is believed that the individuals travelled to the south and left the country.
- Khao San Road, a popular haven for backpackers, has been suggested as a possible location for a terror attack.
The Israeli embassy made a second warning to Thai officials on the 8th of January of an attack between the 13th and 15th of January, which could take place in an area popular with western tourists, such as the Khao San Road area.
Just last month, six bombs were found around the capital with Thai officials making one arrest.
The UK Foreign Office’s travel advice warns of “a high threat of terrorism … including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers”. A spokesman said the level of advice had not changed since December.
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