Police yet to find IS movement here

Police yet to find IS movement here

Tourists walk on Patong beach in Phuket, one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists in Thailand. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
Tourists walk on Patong beach in Phuket, one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists in Thailand. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

Police chief Chakthip Chaijinda says authorities have not detected any movement in Thailand of Syrians linked to Islamic State (IS) but he admits the leaked document citing a Russian intelligence warning was real.

Thai media reported on Thursday that Russia's intelligence service had alerted the Royal Thai Police's Special Branch Bureau that 10 Syrians linked to IS might have entered Thailand between Oct 15 and 31 and were planning to attack Russian interests in the country.

Pol Gen Chakthip confirmed the leaked document was authentic. "After receiving it, we told police to go to the targeted areas but we have yet to find any irregularities," he said.

Those areas were said to include Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

The general added there was no IS movement in Thailand and the country was not a party to any conflicts with the Islamist movement.

Pol Maj Gen Songpol Wattanachai, the deputy police spokesman, said police were still checking whether the 10 Syrians really were in Thailand. In any case, they were taking no chances and have stepped up security and intelligence gathering efforts.

Immigration police chief Pol Lt Gen Nattatorn Prohsunthorn said the number of Syrians visiting Thailand was very small.

"In mid-October, 200 of them came here but most of them have already left. There are now no more than 20 here at present. It's not yet known whether the 10 people in the warning are among the 200," he said.

Gen Thawip Netniyom, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon had told his office to step up security and look into the warnings.

"We need to check thoroughly to see how good the intelligence is. But as a precaution, security agencies are monitoring suspected groups but we can't take action without clear evidence," Gen Thaweep said.

He also said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had told the Special Branch Bureau to set up a committee to find and take serious action against whoever had leaked the document since the information was classified.

"The prime minister also warned the media to avoid being victimised and propagating the news because they too can be prosecuted," he said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (32)