US, Israel issue severe terror alert
Lebanese man held at Suvarnabhumi airport
- Published: 14/01/2012 at 10:23 AM
- Online news: Local News
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, which is backed by Iran, at Suvarnabhumi airport Friday evening 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 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 Friday that foreign terrorists may be in the process of looking to launch attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future.US ambassador Kristie Kenney on Friday afternoon tweeted that "the info is specific and credible, concerns foreign terrorists and tourist areas in BKK."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 -...
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- Writer: POST REPORTERS
