Japan issues regional terror threat alert

The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Royal Thai Police have played down a terrorism threat alert issued by Japan for its nationals living in Southeast Asia, saying there were no indications of any attack being planned specific to Thailand.

The ministry had already checked with the Japanese embassy in Thailand and found that the alert was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan via e-mails and intended for Japanese nationals currently living in Thailand and other countries in the region, said Tanee Sangrat, spokesman for the ministry.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has not specified the source of information leading it to issue the terrorism alert or as to what exact locations in the region that the alert is referring to in particular," he said.

"The embassy couldn't elaborate on the alert either as it has no further information other than that provided in the terrorism alert in question."

Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, a deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, meanwhile, said the alert is a general warning that was simply issued at certain time intervals.

"Security authorities and the Special Branch Bureau have insisted that there are no signs of any new terrorist attacks being plotted in or targeting Thailand at the moment," Pol Col Kissana added.