US Embassy Thailand terrorism warning

[richard]

Posted on the US Embassy website. Great for tourism

Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens: Possible Terrorist Threat

This message alerts U.S. citizens in Thailand that foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future. U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok.

[PeteC]

Post the link please Richard, Thanks. Pete

[PeteC]

Never mind, I found the Bangkok Post article. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ist-threat

[richard]

Post the link please Richard, Thanks. Pete

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/011312emer ... ssage.html

A bit more detail Pete

[PeteC]

I wonder what they know, and if the UK and other embassies will issue similar? Pete

[richard]

I wonder what they know, and if the UK and other embassies will issue similar? Pete

UK embassy site has always had this paragraph for visitors

There is a high threat of terrorism. Bomb and grenade attacks have been indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers. Sporadic attacks continue in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. There were reports that bombs were defused in three locations on the outskirts of east Bangkok on 16 December 2011 and there was a bomb scare in the Phra Nakon area of Bangkok on 6 December 2011. Exercise caution, especially in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. See: Safety and Security - Terrorism.




AND now the world knows

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16543447

[PeteC]

The above BBC link has changed since my first read.....they've now caught someone and given details why the warning was issued. Pete

[Siani]

It is on Sky News...a warning.. high terror alert.

[2dandan]

Warnings have been issued today re a Hezbollah terrorist alert in tourist areas of Bangkok. It appears the threat has been thwarted and an arrest made. Story below...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/u-warns-possib ... 18313.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/britons-warned ... 43713.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16543447

[Frank Hovis]

This message alerts U.S. citizens in Thailand that foreign terrorists ....

By foreign do they mean 'not American terrorists' or 'not Thai terrorists' or both ?

[buksida]

I get sent press releases from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, here is the ministers official reaction:

กรมสารนิเทศกระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
Foreign Minister gives interview on travel advisories issued by foreign embassies

On 14 January 2012, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul gave an interview to the press while on official duties in Chiang Mai province, regarding the travel alert issued by the Embassy of the United States of America, as well as those issued by other embassies most of which refer to the alert issued by the former. The Foreign Minister expressed disappointment that the U.S. side had not consulted with the Thai side prior to releasing the alert since the Thai intelligence agencies concerned had earlier been in close coordination with the U.S. and other countries involved.

At the same time, the Foreign Minister confirmed that the Royal Thai Government, through the intelligence and security agencies, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had been aware of the possible terrorist threat, with Pol. Capt. Chalerm Ubumrung, Deputy Prime Minister, and related Thai agencies, such as the National Security Council and the Royal Thai Police, coordinating closely on this matter. On 12 January 2012, the authorities had detained a foreign suspect who is now being questioned. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also coordinate with foreign embassies that have issued travel alerts and advisories to ensure their understanding about the situation as the advisories issued have affected the country's standing as a whole.

The Foreign Minister underscored that Thailand is a peace-loving country that has always pursued appropriate policies in the international arena and has friendly relations with all countries.

[tuna22]

Yes this warning was mentioned on the New York Fox News Network the other day. Somehow in conjunction with Hezbollah and extremist Iranian influences.

[buksida]

BANGKOK - When the United States Embassy issued a travel advisory about "foreign terrorists" in Bangkok last weekend, the warning may have prevented a massive car bombing in an area popular with Western tourists. But in a surprising diplomatic rebuke, Thailand complained about the impact of Washington's counter-terrorism strategy on its economically crucial tourism industry.

Hussein Atris, an alleged Lebanese-born, Swedish passport-holding member of Hezbollah, led police on Monday to a rented building packed with potential bomb-making ingredients after he was arrested in Bangkok on January 13. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim organization represented in Lebanon's government and supported by Iran and Syria, is listed by Washington as a terrorist organization.

The building held 9,656 pounds (4,380 kilograms) of urea fertilizer and 10 gallons (37.8 liters) of liquid ammonium nitrate, police told reporters. Those chemicals can be used in agriculture, rock quarries and elsewhere, but also to make a bomb.

Full Story: Asia Times

[tuna22]

But in a surprising diplomatic rebuke, Thailand complained about the impact of Washington's counter-terrorism strategy on its economically crucial tourism industry.

What knuckleheads!

[Takiap]

Yes, I've read a few articles relating to this but, as the newspapers say, the Thai authorities have everything under control......