Wichean sceptical about bomb suspect attack plots

Wichean sceptical about bomb suspect attack plots

National Security Council secretary-general Wichean Potephosree has admitted he is unsure if Swedish-Lebanese terror suspect Hussein Atris is actually involved in planning terrorist attacks.

Pol Gen Wichean, former national police chief, yesterday warned officials to be more careful in handling the case and not to jump to any conclusions.

Arresting and detaining the suspect without bringing a charge of terrorism against him could have adverse repercussions, Pol Gen Wichean said.

Mr Atris, a Lebanese man carrying a Swedish passport, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday. Police believed he had links to the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Suspected of involvement in a possible terrorist conspiracy, Hussein Artis is led from his Criminal Court hearing on Tuesday.

On Monday, police seized a huge cache of bomb-making material during a raid at a building in the Mahachai area of Samut Sakhon after questioning Mr Atris. They found 4.4 tonnes of urea-based fertiliser and 290 litres of ammonium nitrate. Investigators said the suspect told them they were not intended for use in any planned attacks in Thailand and were to be exported.

Police have charged Mr Atris with possession of prohibited substances in violation of the Arms Control Act.

Pol Gen Wichean said Israel had issued terror alerts for Thailand several times since 1994. He also urged the US to be more subtle in dealing with the issue by liaising with the Foreign Ministry first before announcing alerts.

"I want the US to have some manners by talking to the Foreign Ministry first," Pol Gen Wichean said.

Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkaew yesterday invited Judith Cefkin, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy, to discuss the US warning about possible terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Mr Atris was yesterday taken to the Border Patrol Police Bureau on Phahon Yothin Road for further questioning. Deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat, head of the investigators handling the case, said officers would summon more witnesses for questioning and check the law to determine if the case is terrorism-related.

Assistant national police chief Charamporn Suramanee said police believed there could be other people involved, although Mr Atris is the only person facing charges at present.

A source at the Metropolitan Police Bureau said Mr Atris had admitted to ordering and buying the seized chemicals, but insisted he did not know they were prohibited under Thai law.

Mr Atris told investigators the substances were supposed to be shipped to the Middle East and Africa for medical use, the source said.

The Criminal Court yesterday approved a police request to continue detaining Mr Atris pending further inquiries.

He will remain in custody at Bangkok Remand Prison for 12 days, starting from yesterday.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Winai Thongsong said that no charge of terrorism had been brought against Mr Atris and that the US and Israel had not been in contact to seek the extradition of the suspect.

Pol Lt Gen Winai also said an investigation based on intelligence reports from the US and Israel found that six months ago another group of three Lebanese men had also arrived in the Mahachai area.

Police believed the three may be linked to Hezbollah, although there was no confirmation if they were still in the country, Pol Lt Gen Winai said, adding that Thailand would only be their resting point, not their target.

A police source said US authorities had asked to attend the questioning of Mr Atris, but Thai investigators have turned down their request.

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