US Embassy Terrorist Alert

by **parrot** » January 14, 2012, 7:44 pm

I suppose if I were from Norway, I'd take comfort in knowing that Anders Behring Breivik is simply a paranoid schizophrenia who was doing his part to defend Europe against a Muslim invasion. I guess I'd be sleeping better at night knowing all's safe in the homeland.

by **rick** » January 14, 2012, 9:10 pm

There are many false alarms in so called 'threatened terrorist attacks'. In 20 years in UK cannot think of one 'threat' which was followed up by an actual attack. All successful attacks were not telegraphed (in government work, we used to have an alert practically every other month). Also, Hezbollah may be a 'terrorist' organisation in the eyes of the USA but they focus on local issues - they don't blow up things outside of the middle East. So i doubt that he was planning to blow up tourists.

by **Jello** » January 14, 2012, 10:30 pm

rick wrote:Hezbollah may be a 'terrorist' organization in the eyes of the USA but they focus on local issues - they don't blow up things outside of the middle East.

Hezbollah was responsible for the 1992 Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires, killing 29, and the 1994 AMIA bombing of a Jewish cultural centre, killing 85, in Argentina. In 2002, Singapore accused Hezbollah of recruiting Singaporeans in a failed 1990s plot to attack U.S. and Israeli ships in the Singapore Straits.

8 countries have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah

by **trubrit** » January 15, 2012, 5:16 am

Now eleven other countries including the UK and Canada have issued Terrorist alerts to their citizens. Clearly they don't believe the rubbish coming forth from the Thai deputy PM either. :-"

by **bumper** » January 15, 2012, 6:09 pm

I though they caught this guy did I miss something? Looks like in the end he was the wrong guy. Looks like they are trying sometimes not an easy thing.

News > Local News
Police believe terror suspect roaming city
11 embassies issue travel alert

Published: 15/01/2012 at 12:09 AM
Online news: Local News

Police are hunting a terror suspect believed to be at large in Bangkok as the number of foreign embassies issuing travel warnings to Thailand increased to 11 Saturday.

Late on Friday night police released a sketch of a man suspected of entering Thailand to launch terrorist attacks, hours after Atris Hussein, a Swedish-Lebanese man with suspected links to the Hezbollah militant group, was apprehended by Thai police at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The suspect is a white Middle-Eastern man who is about 180cm tall with short hair and stubble. Those who believe they may have spotted the suspect are being urged to report to the nearest police station or call 191, said police spokesman Piya Uthayo.

Pol Maj Gen Piya said the man is still believed to be in Bangkok, but police in nearby provinces and other popular tourists destinations such as Pattaya and some southern provinces have been told to be on the lookout for the suspect.

Pol Maj Gen Piya added that all units in the Metropolitan Police Bureau have been instructed to look for the suspect, and as a result the public might see more police checkpoints and searches.

The police have also beefed up security at certain embassies in Bangkok.

"From intelligence reports, the attackers will use explosives, so the public is urged to be vigilant in risk areas, or in buildings visited by a lot of foreigners, and to particularly look for vehicles that have been left in certain areas for a long time," said Pol Maj Gen Piya.

Mr Hussein's arrest prompted foreign embassies, including those of the US, Canada and Australia, to issue travel alerts for Thailand, saying that foreign terrorists may be in the process of looking to launch attacks in tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future.

The warnings irked Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who said Saturday that he was "disappointed" that embassies have not consulted the Foreign

Ministry according to diplomatic convention before issuing the warnings".

Mr Surapong insisted that Thai security agencies have known about the terrorist plot for a while and have been tracing a group of suspects. He said tourists and investors can have confidence in Thailand's security measures.

National police chief Priewpan Damapong Saturday said charges have not been pressed against Mr Hussein because there is no evidence that he has committed an offence.

Under Thai law, police can detain suspects for up to 60 days after which point they must be charged or deported.

A police source said Mr Hussein told investigators that even though he was a member of Hezbollah, he was not part of the group's militant arm.

In Beirut, Hezbollah official Ghaleb Abu Zainab told LBC television that Mr Hussein is not a Hezbollah member.

The police chief said he had ordered officers to step up security measures at potential targets including Khao San Road, Soi Rambutri, Sukhumvit Soi 22 and other areas with a high density of Western tourists or residents.

Pol Maj Gen Adit Ngamchitsuksi, chief of the Tourist Police, said his bureau had increased security in such areas and had also fanned out officers to gather information on possible terrorist activities in the capital.

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the public should not panic and let security authorities handle this issue.

"Panic will worsen everything, whether it is the economy, the country or tourism," said Gen Prayuth.

by **Jello** » January 16, 2012, 8:17 am

Govt assurances on Hezbollah threat are anything but
editorial
The Nation January 15, 2012 1:00 am
Shades of 9/11 as Chalerm's self-serving response to US, Israeli terror warning leaves Thais confused and concerned

A Lebanese man with alleged links to the Hezbollah militant group was arrested late last week as security and intelligence officers followed up on a tip from the Israeli government that the Lebanon-based group may be planning a terrorist attack against Israeli and American citizens in Thailand.

Initially, two men were brought in for questioning. It was not clear how one managed to evade custody, and reportedly flee the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung assured the public that everything is under control, trying hard to play down the situation and offering conflicting statements.

The issue had been floating around in intelligence circles for some days. But when the American Embassy on Friday issued a warning to its citizens to keep a low profile because of possible terrorist attacks, Thai officials scrambled among themselves to make all sorts of statements to reassure the public that everything is under control.

For all we know, everything may be under control. But the manner in which the message was delivered and the conflicting accounts offered by Chalerm and Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha make the Thai authorities look unprofessional and unconvincing.

Full article at: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/ ... ar&x=0&y=0

by **jackspratt** » January 16, 2012, 8:34 am

A thug trying to re-assure the Thai (and visiting) public about a terrorist - now there is an interesting juxtaposition. :shock:

by **bumper** » January 16, 2012, 3:54 pm

Really the norm if you follow Thai News. I will stick with my Embassy information

by **Jello** » January 17, 2012, 1:53 pm

bumper wrote:I will stick with my Embassy information

I agree. The US Embassy, Israel Embassy, Synagogue on Sukhumvit Soi22, Khao San Road, and Pattaya are all on my "go nowhere near" list when I go to Bangkok.

Any other places that should be avoided?

by **Jello** » January 17, 2012, 4:04 pm

Bangkok Post-

PM asks US to revoke terror alert
Published: 16/01/2012 at 06:19 PM
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged the United States to revoke its terrorism warning immediately after the arrest of a suspected Hezbollah member linked to sabotage attempts in Bangkok.
Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said on Monday Ms Yingluck made the call when she invited him to report on the alert situation after Washington warned of terrorist threats in Bangkok.

He quoted Ms Yingluck as saying the warning, if prolonged, will damage the country.

US embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler said the terrorist warning for American citizens has remained valid despite the arrest and discovery of an apparent bomb factory.

Full story at: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... rror-alert

by **Jello** » January 17, 2012, 4:09 pm

Meanwhile, in Kenya....

Terror alert closes US embassy
Tuesday, Jan 17 2012
The United States Embassy in Kenya will be closed for two days next week - and longer if necessary - following a Pentagon alert that the threat of a terrorist act in Kenya had increased significantly, embassy spokesman Tom Hart said in Nairobi.

The closure on Monday and Tuesday "and if necessary additional days thereafter" was due to what is described as "new and concrete information concerning the continuing threat of terrorist activity in Kenya and East Africa".

On Friday, the Pentagon issued a terrorism alert to all US interests in Kenya and raised to "high" the level of the threat.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1jhkwDAJ9

by **bumper** » January 19, 2012, 4:28 pm

This has really got confusing first day one arrest still two more floating about as far a I can tell. In listening to morning new this morning basically they were saying they were assembling components here, to be shipped elsewhere. Who know's not I for sure.

by **FrazeeDK** » January 21, 2012, 6:03 am

well the police found hundreds of kilos of urea and ammonium nitrate along with several hundred reciprocating table fans in boxes (possibly purchased to use the boxes to packe the explosives). Moving all this stuff and doing the planning had to have been more than two guys. Since others are probably involved and still on the lam it makes perfect sense to keep the alert in place.

On Kenya.. The Kenyans and Ethiopians with probable U.S. assistance are wacking the radical Al Shabbab Somalis big time in Somalia. Al Shabbab is known for using suicide bombers and infiltrating Kenyan refugee camps regularly.. See the link: http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20120117.aspx By the way, the STRATEGY page where I gleaned this info is updated a couple of times a day and has some really interesting military oriented stories..

by **bumper** » January 21, 2012, 5:55 pm

YA I ain't feeling really cozy just yet.

by **FrazeeDK** » January 22, 2012, 5:21 am

ABAC poll has Bangkok residents seeing government as unprepared for terror and trusting U.S. info on terror more than their own government http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/276196/terror-readiness-seen-as-poor

and a second storage house for explosives found..http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/276220/terror-case-suspect-had-explosives-in-two-houses

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