Police launch frantic hunt for IS suspects
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered police to track down 10 Syrians linked to the Islamic State (IS) group who are believed to have entered Thailand.
Police have also been told to step up security following a warning from Russia about possible attacks in Thailand on Russian interests or those of allied countries.
The move comes as police confirmed the authenticity of a leaked police memo circulated on Thursday saying Russia’s Federal Security Service had asked Thailand to keep a close watch on 10 Syrians believed to be involved with the IS.
However, they insisted the content of the memo is being verified as it might have been tampered with online.
A probe will be launched to find out how the police memo signed by Pol Maj Gen Sarawut Karnpanich, deputy commissioner of the Special Branch Bureau, on behalf of the commissioner, was leaked.
The leaked memo stated 10 foreigners entered the country between Oct 15 and 31. Four allegedly went to Pattaya, two to Phuket and two to Bangkok. The whereabouts of the two others are unknown.
Gen Prawit said he had instructed Special Branch Police to verify the information and trace the steps of more than 400 Syrian tourists who have reportedly visited the country.
He said security has also been stepped up at venues associated with other countries that have staged attacks against the IS group in Syria.
“Be assured we can do it and we will do our best to ensure public safety,” he said.
Gen Prawit said he had instructed national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda to investigate the leaked memo.
Pol Gen Chakthip said yesterday the memo is genuine and his deputy Srivara Ransibrahmanakul is investigating how it was leaked to the media.
Pol Gen Chakthip, however, played down the warning from Russia, saying intelligence sharing is standard practice.
He also said other countries have received similar warnings but declined to elaborate.
More than 1.6 million Russian tourists visited Thailand in 2014, the largest number from Europe. Arrivals from Russia spike during the Christmas and the New Year holidays.
However, Pol Gen Chakthip said there is no IS-related activity in the country and Thailand is not involved in the Syrian conflict. He said the government has made security a top priority and such warnings are normal following the Nov 13 attacks in France.
Pol Lt Gen Natthorn Prohsunthorn, commissioner of the Immigration Police, said 231 Syrians entered the country during the second half of October on tourist visas issued by the Thai embassy in Syria which are valid for 60 days.
As of Thursday, 21 remained in the country with some in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.
He said Immigration Police had been alerted by the National Security Council to examine records of people from Syria entering and leaving the country.
But he said police have no information about specific threats to the country.
Pol Lt Gen Natthorn also issued a letter instructing immigration officials to increase their surveillance and thoroughly review requests by foreigners to extend their stays.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday urged the public not to panic over the reported presence of individuals linked to the IS.
“There’s nothing unusual about exchanging information between security authorities and there is no need to panic,” he said.
“It’d be more worrying if we didn’t receive cooperation. The government has been looking into the warning and there is no activity [to be concerned about].”
He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is concerned the leaked memo could cause adverse psychological impacts on people.
NSC secretary-general Thawip Netniyom also called for calm and said Thai security agencies are able to handle any threats and are closely monitoring the situation.
He also cautioned the media and the public about publishing the document, saying they could be charged with violating the Computer Crime Act.
He said security work should be carried out in secret and what the public should see in the document was the cooperation of intelligence and security agencies of friendly countries.
Maj Gen Banpot Poonphien, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, also expressed concerns about a security scare being triggered by the memo.