Wallenda Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 BANGKOK (AP) – An alleged terrorist plot aimed at Bangkok that sparked urgent warnings of danger from the United States and Israel has been thwarted, Thai police said Saturday. By Sakchai Lalit, AP National Police Chief Gen. Priewpan Damapong said the alleged bombing scheme was called off by the alleged plotters — two Lebanese men said to be linked to pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants. One man was in custody for questioning, and the other was at large. The U.S. Embassy had circulated a warning Friday that there was a "real and credible" terrorist threat against Americans in Bangkok, and Israel issued a similar warning to its citizens. Thai authorities confirmed being informed of a plot, and said they were pursuing the missing suspect. The warnings came during heightened tension over U.S. and Israeli responses to the prospect that Iran is going forward with developing nuclear weapons. Priewpan's remarks came less than 12 hours after police held a hastily arranged news conference late Friday night in which they circulated a sketch of the missing suspect, with a call for the public to help track him down. They said the man in custody told them the plot was supposed to be carried out between Jan. 13 and 15. Thailand seemed to have been caught by surprise by the publicity over the alleged plot, which officials said they had been informed about before New Year's. The U.S. Embassy warning was the first public notice of the affair, and Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa said Thai authorities did not release news of the alleged plot because of fears that it would hurt the tourist industry and cause panic. Thailand is acutely sensitive to news that could affect its huge tourism industry, one of the country's biggest revenue earners. Foreign Minister Surapong Tovijakchaikul said Saturday that he was greatly disappointed the United States and other countries had issued travel warnings to their citizens over terrorism risks without consulting the Foreign Ministry, which he said is the normal procedure. Surapong said such actions adversely affect Thailand's tourism industry, its image and confidence among other nations, and that the ministry would seek an explanation from the countries involved and consider measures to remedy the problem. Thailand also seeks to keep friendly relations with Iran. Although Thailand is firmly pro-American, Iran is a major trading partner, especially as a top market for Thai rice. Iran sees possible U.S. complicity in a series of assassinations of its nuclear experts — the latest coming Wednesday, when scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan was killed by a bomb attached to his car by a passing bicyclist. Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim militant group, is the most potent military force in Lebanon, far stronger than even the national army. It is backed mainly by Iran and Syria. Thailand's Metropolitan Police spokesman Piya Utayo said Friday night that the man in custody told police the pair had arrived before New Year's with plans to stage a bombing attack. Priewpan, the police chief, however, said Saturday that the man — a Swedish national of Lebanese origin identified as Attiris Hussein — told police an attack had been prepared but was called off when the authorities learned about it. Priewpan said the suspect had been questioned by Thai authorities after being detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport as he was about to leave Thailand. Police can hold him for questioning under immigration law for 60 days before deportation. Priewpan said police would not file any charges against him because he had not committed any crime. [Wendella: Amazing Thailand] Thailand has rarely been a target for foreign terrorists, although a domestic Muslim insurgency in the country's south has involved bombings of civilian targets. In 1994, an attempt to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok was abandoned when the driver of a truck packed with a massive car bomb fled after a minor traffic accident. Several Iranians were arrested in connection with the attempt — which some terrorism experts blamed on Hezbollah — but all were eventually released. There have been several reported plots against the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok in the past two decades, but no attacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbaron Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 In 1994, an attempt to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok was abandoned when the driver of a truck packed with a massive car bomb fled after a minor traffic accident. Pure Gold - Thai style... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Police believe terror suspect roaming city Police are hunting a terror suspect believed to be at large in Bangkok as the number of foreign embassies issuing travel warnings to Thailand increased to 11 Saturday. Late on Friday night police released a sketch of a man suspected of entering Thailand to launch terrorist attacks, hours after Atris Hussein, a Swedish-Lebanese man with suspected links to the Hezbollah militant group, was apprehended by Thai police at Suvarnabhumi airport. The suspect is a white Middle-Eastern man who is about 180cm tall with short hair and stubble. Those who believe they may have spotted the suspect are being urged to report to the nearest police station or call 191, said police spokesman Piya Uthayo. Pol Maj Gen Piya said the man is still believed to be in Bangkok, but police in nearby provinces and other popular tourists destinations such as Pattaya and some southern provinces have been told to be on the lookout for the suspect. Pol Maj Gen Piya added that all units in the Metropolitan Police Bureau have been instructed to look for the suspect, and as a result the public might see more police checkpoints and searches. The police have also beefed up security at certain embassies in Bangkok. "From intelligence reports, the attackers will use explosives, so the public is urged to be vigilant in risk areas, or in buildings visited by a lot of foreigners, and to particularly look for vehicles that have been left in certain areas for a long time," said Pol Maj Gen Piya. Mr Hussein's arrest prompted foreign embassies, including those of the US, Canada and Australia, to issue travel alerts for Thailand, saying that foreign terrorists may be in the process of looking to launch attacks in tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future. The warnings irked Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who said Saturday that he was "disappointed" that embassies have not consulted the Foreign Ministry according to diplomatic convention before issuing the warnings". Mr Surapong insisted that Thai security agencies have known about the terrorist plot for a while and have been tracing a group of suspects. He said tourists and investors can have confidence in Thailand's security measures. National police chief Priewpan Damapong Saturday said charges have not been pressed against Mr Hussein because there is no evidence that he has committed an offence. Under Thai law, police can detain suspects for up to 60 days after which point they must be charged or deported. A police source said Mr Hussein told investigators that even though he was a member of Hezbollah, he was not part of the group's militant arm. In Beirut, Hezbollah official Ghaleb Abu Zainab told LBC television that Mr Hussein is not a Hezbollah member. The police chief said he had ordered officers to step up security measures at potential targets including Khao San Road, Soi Rambutri, Sukhumvit Soi 22 and other areas with a high density of Western tourists or residents. Pol Maj Gen Adit Ngamchitsuksi, chief of the Tourist Police, said his bureau had increased security in such areas and had also fanned out officers to gather information on possible terrorist activities in the capital. Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the public should not panic and let security authorities handle this issue. "Panic will worsen everything, whether it is the economy, the country or tourism," said Gen Prayuth. BP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallenda Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Police believe terror suspect roaming city Police are hunting a terror suspect believed to be at large in Bangkok as the number of foreign embassies issuing travel warnings to Thailand increased to 11 Saturday. They want to capture him as soon as possible so that they can then let him go since he hasn't done anything wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallenda Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 The suspect is a white Middle-Eastern man who is about 180cm tall with short hair and stubble. [/url] If you see anyone who fits this description, please contact Thai police immediately. They'll have to act quickly and catch him before he has a chance to shave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobbledonk Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 'White middle-eastern' ? Unless we are talking Israel, do such people actually exist ? I'm not trying to be racist here, but I havent seen too many with skin that I would describe as pale-skinned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Yeah, all Middle Easterners are black, it goes with the territory... Except Jesus of course, he was white, which is why he moved his religion away from the Middle East to white countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallenda Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Yeah, all Middle Easterners are black, it goes with the territory... Except Jesus of course, he was white, which is why he moved his religion away from the Middle East to white countries. Annd he's another guy who got caught before he had a chance to shave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Why do't they arrest everybody and detain them forever - just like they do in the USA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayjann Posted January 18, 2012 Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Why do't they arrest everybody and detain them forever - just like they do in the USA? that must be against the rules surely.... after all most countries in the world observe certain rules except for one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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