Source: BBC
Thai police say they were warned by Moscow that 10 Syrians working for the so-called Islamic State (IS) entered Thailand in October to target Russians.
A leaked Thai police memo says the information was passed by Russia’s intelligence agency. More than 1.5 million Russians visited in 2013.
But Thai police say they have not been able to confirm the presence of these Syrians and officials called for calm.
Russia began air strikes against IS in Syria at the end of September.
An IS-linked group also claimed it brought down the Russian airliner which crashed in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula in October, killing all 224 people on board.
The leaked memo, marked “urgent” and dated 27 November, was from a commander of Thailand’s Special Branch and was sent to police units.
It says Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) had told Thai police that the Syrian militants had entered the country between 15 and 31 October to target Russians.
How has IS threat expanded?
- Syria and Iraq: IS controls large areas of both countries, declaring the land a “caliphate”
- Egypt: IS affiliate Sinai Province said it downed a Russian passenger plane in the Sinai peninsula in October killing all 228 on board
- Yemen: In March IS carried out its first major attacks in Yemen targeting Shia mosques in Sanaa
- Afghanistan and Pakistan: The IS branch calls itself Khorasan Province after the historical term jihadists use to refer to the region covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and “other nearby lands”
- Algeria: Jund al-Khilafah pledged allegiance to IS in 2014
- Libya: Three distinct Libyan IS “provinces” were announced in November 2014
- Nigeria: Boko Haram declared allegiance to IS in March
The memo reads: “They travelled separately. Four went to Pattaya, two to Phuket, two to Bangkok and the other two to an unknown location.”
The plan was to target “Russians and Russia’s alliance with Thailand,” it says.
The memo calls for increased security around possible targets.
Image copyrightReutersPattaya and Phuket are both popular resort destinations for Russian tourists, and Christmas and New Year are peak seasons.
But Thai authorities said they had still to determine whether the Syrians had even entered the country.
A deputy spokesman for the Thai police Songpol Wattanachai confirmed the memo was authentic, but added: “So far it’s only intelligence news that still needs to be proved… we have no proof if they are here for real or not.”
National Security Council Chief General Thawip Netniyom said: “We have yet to find any unusual movement. Everything is safe, rest assured.”
Immigration Bureau commissioner Nathathorn Prausoontorn told Reuters news agency that of the 231 Syrians who had entered in October, only 21 remain and there were “no irregularities” among them.
In August, a bomb at a Bangkok temple that killed 20 people was the first major attack on a tourist target in Thailand.
Two Muslim Uighurs were arrested and charged, although authorities say they are linked to people-smuggling gangs, not Islamist militants.
But the BBC’s Southeast Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says there are outstanding arrest warrants for a further 15 suspects for that bombing who are still at large.
There is a widely-held belief that it was carried out in retaliation for Thailand’s controversial decision in July to repatriate more than 100 Uighur asylum seekers to China, he adds.
Categories: Asia, ISIS, Thailand, The Muslim Times
EXTREMIST ISLAM LISTEN TO EVIL, instead of God’s words. Extremist Muslim like to use Evi-words, and kill innocent people, that is why their life in misery, poverty etc.
We are the true Muslim, Liberal-Moderate Muslim have to admit that those extremist Muslim want to create the Islamic State, by false or ancient Syariah laws according to their own interpretation of Islam. The result of their own interpretation create discrimination, oppression,
violence,injustice,kill innocent people, kill blasphemy, kill apostates, kill gay-lesbian, and hatred toward West. Extremist Muslim are showing the cruel-violent image.
THE TRUTH OF ISLAM OR MUSLIM speak friendly words, do a good deed, love every one regardless his religion, race, and gender.No hatred and violence.That is why their life will be blessed,successful and prosperity.
Liberal Islam/ Muslim promote secular-Democratic System according to Allah’s laws; the majority lead the government, and the right of minority MUST be protected by law,or constitution. Liberty with justice for all people regardless his race, religion, gender, and age.
BIBLE commanded to protect the right of minority;
Speak up for people who can not speak for them selves.protect the rights of all
who are helpless.speak for them and be a righteous judge.protect the right of
the poor and needy. Proverb 31:8.
AL QURAN commanded to protect the right of minority too.
And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help.QS.4:75.
CONCLUSION :
Extremist Muslim’s organization such as ISIS, Taliban, and Al Qaida create violence,
kill innocent people, kill blasphemy, kill gay-lesbian, kill apostates, kill Muslim Shiia, Christian, are NOT Islamic teaching, or not the true Muslim. From his mouth come out evil-words, rude, harsh, incite violence. They are wolves with sheep’s cloth.
The true Muslim is to promote peace, love, harmony and prosperity in this
beautiful planet we share together, as Allah said.
How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together i
harmony.Psalm 133:1.
Love your neighbor as you love your self, if you are really love Allah, but you
hate your brothers, you are a big liar.
So love all people even they do not share your faith, like Christian, Jews,
Budha, Hindu, atheist and Gay-Lesbian without discrimination at all.
Love and justice for all, equality, tolerance and respect the different faith
are the core of Islamic teaching from Allah swt.
We must give freedom of religion, but where we disagree we must give love,
compassion, and forgiveness, instead of judgment and condemnation.
The best service to God is to promote cooperation and friendship between humans.
With all My Love