Bangkok terror plot: updated | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

Eleven countries have now issued terror alerts for Bangkok as the search continues for a man suspected to be involved in a plot to hit tourist areas.

Please join us on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo reveals a sketch of a man of middle-eastern descent whom police want to question in connection with the alleged terror plot that has been the subject of US embassy warnings. POST TODAY photo

Sunday update

Click button to listen to Terrorist plot2 and rightclick to download

Police believe terror suspect roaming city

11 embassies issue travel alert

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.

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".

terror – violence used for making people very frightened in order to achieve political aims การก่อการร้าย  การสร้างความหวาดกลัว
suspect– a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
roam – to move or travel around in no particular direction เดินทางโดยปราศจากจุดหมาย
embassy– a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
issue – to announce something officially ออกประกาศ
alert– a warning to people to be prepared to deal with something dangerous การเตือนให้ระวัง
at large – not having been caught by the police ลอยนวล, ยังไม่ถูกจับกุม
release – to allow something to be shown or known to the public or to be available for use เปิดเผย, ปล่อยข่าว
sketch– a simple picture that is drawn quickly and does not have many details ภาพร่าง
launch – to start something เริ่มต้น เริ่มทำ
link – a connection ความเชื่อมโยงกัน
militant – of people who use violent or forceful methods to achieve something  ผู้ใช้ความรุนแรงในการโจมตี
apprehended – arrested; caught by the police ถูกจับ, โดนจับกุม
stubble – the short stiff hairs that grow on a man's face when he has not shaved recently โคนหนวดเคราที่ไม่ได้โกน
spot – to see or notice สังเกตเห็น
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
destination – the place where someone or something is going  จุดหมายปลายทาง
be on the lookout – to watch carefully for somebody/something in order to avoid danger, etc. or in order to find something you want เฝ้าดู
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
instruct – to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way สั่ง
search – looking somewhere or through something carefully in order to find someone/something การค้นหา
prompt – to cause someone to take action กระตุ้น
irk – to annoy someone รบกวน,ทำให้รำคาญ
disappointed – unhappy because someone or something was not as good as you hoped or expected, or because something did not happen ผิดหวัง
consult – to ask for information or advice from someone หารือ
diplomatic – relating to relations between countries เกี่ยวกับการทูต
convention – a way of behaving that is generally accepted as being normal and right ธรรมเนียมปฎิบัติ

Click button to listen to Terrorist plot and rightclick to download

US, Israel issue severe terror alert

Lebanese man held at Suvarnabhumi airport

POST REPORTERS

A police sketch of man they are seeking for questioning.

The United States and Israel have issued a warning of possible severe terrorist attacks in Bangkok after Thai authorities arrested a Lebanese suspect.

Police detained the man with suspected links to the Hizbollah militant group at Suvarnabhumi airport last night as he attempted to leave the kingdom, said Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who oversees national security.

Mr Chalerm said police have control of the situation and urged the public not to panic.

The situation was not as severe as initially feared, he added.

The authorities had received information about the terror suspect before the US issued the warning.

The US embassy said in a message posted on its website yesterday that foreign terrorists may be in the process of looking to launch 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, the embassy added.

They are also encouraged to keep a low profile in public areas, particularly those frequented by foreign tourists, it said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had previously received information from the US regarding a terror threat and assigned Mr Chalerm and national police chief Priewpan Damapong to the case.

She also put the Royal Thai Police and National Intelligence Agency on high alert and ordered them to report to her around the clock.

Ms Yingluck confirmed a suspect had been arrested but she refused to disclose any further information about the capture.

‘‘The arrest has been made but it is best to wait until things are clearer to announce more details,’’ the prime minister said.

Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong said the situation has now been brought under control.

He said officers are now investigating the incident and they will give more details shortly.

Gen Priewpan said that police received intelligence about a possible terrorist threat late last year and have since been on alert.

A highly placed source at the Immigration Bureau said the US embassy told Thai authorities before Christmas that it had been informed by the Israeli embassy a group of suspected militants would launch attacks in Thailand, with Western and American people as their targets.

An investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Special Branch Bureau found that a militant group travelled from Lebanon and stayed near Khao San Road.

They held two passports — Lebanese and Swedish. However, they managed to escape when police raided their room, although one of them was eventually arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa yesterday said security agencies had monitored the movements of terrorist suspects belonging to Hizbollah in Lebanon.

He said the suspects may plot car bomb attacks against important locations such as the Israeli embassy, Israeli churches, tour companies and restaurants visited by Israelis.

Gen Yutthasak said the terrorist threat in Thailand may also be linked with strained US ties with Iran. He said vulnerable locations, where both US and Israeli tourists congregate, have now been issued with alerts.

He added the government was concerned that the news of possible terrorist attacks could throw the public into a panic and would hurt tourism.

A security source said officers from the police and military have now been deployed at key locations including Suvarnabhumi and Khao San Road. An Israeli intelligence unit reportedly told Thai authorities on Dec 22 that at least three terrorist suspects would arrive in Thailand to plot attacks. However, the suspects went to the southern provinces before leaving the country.

On Jan 8, the intelligence unit warned Thai authorities again that terrorist suspects would plan attacks in Thailand this weekend with tourist spots as their prime targets.

sketch – a simple picture that is drawn quickly and does not have many details ภาพร่าง
reveal – to show or let something become known เปิดเผย
descent – being related to a particular person or group of people who lived in the past การสืบเชื้อสาย
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
terror – violence used for making people very frightened in order to achieve political aims การก่อการร้าย  การสร้างความหวาดกลัว
plot – a secret plan to do something bad  แผนการลับ
embassy – a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
issue – to announce something officially ออกประกาศ
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง
alert – a warning to people to be prepared to deal with something dangerous การเตือนให้ระวัง
terrorist – of someone who uses violence in order to  achieve political aims ผู้ก่อการร้าย
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
arrest – (of the police) taking someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime การจับกุม
suspect – a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
detain – to keep someone in a police station or prison and not allow them to leave กักตัว ควบคุมตัวหรือฝากขัง
link – a connection ความเชื่อมโยงกัน
militant – of people who use violent or forceful methods to achieve something  ผู้ใช้ความรุนแรงในการโจมตี
oversee – to watch or organise a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly คุมงาน,ควบคุม
national security – the protection or the safety of a country’s secrets and its citizens การรักษาความมั่นคงแห่ง่ชาติ
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
panic – to have a sudden strong feeling of fear or worry that causes you to be unable to think clearly or calmly ตื่นตกใจ
initially – at first ในเบื้องต้น
launch – to start something เริ่มต้น เริ่มทำ
exercise – to use ใช้
caution – careful thought and lack of hurry in order to try to avoid risks or danger ความระมัดระวัง
encourage – to cause someone to want to do something กระตุ้น ให้การสนับสนุน
keep a low profile –to try not to attract attention ลดบทบาท
frequent – to visit a particular place often ไปบ่อย,ไปเป็นประจำ
threat – a danger อันตราย
intelligence – information collected about the secret plans of an enemy, criminal organisations, competitors, etc. ข่าวกรอง  ข้อมูลลับ
refuse – to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do ปฏิเสธ
disclose – to give information to people เปิดเผย
investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
immigration bureau – the government agency dealing with people entering and leaving the country and those who want to live there สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
raid – to use force to enter a place suddenly in order to arrest people or search for something such as illegal weapons or drugs บุกเข้าจับ, เข้าตรวจค้น
eventually – at the end of a period of time or at the end of a process ในที่สุด
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening  ตรวจสอบ ตรวจตรา
strained – not relaxed or friendly เครียด
ties – relations; connections ความสัมพันธ์
vulnerable – easily damaged or harmed ซึ่งถูกทำลายได้ง่าย
congregate –  to come together in a group รวมกัน
deploy – (of police or soldiers) to put in place ready for action ส่ง (ทหารตำรวจ) ประจำการ
key – very important ที่สำคัญ
prime – main or most important ที่สำคัญที่สุด
target – a person, business, building, area, etc., that someone intends to attack เป้าหมาย

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.