Search for IS suspects intensifies (Updated)

04 ธันวาคม 2558

The leaked memo is real, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered police to track down 10 IS-linked Syrians, but such warnings are standard practice after the Paris attacks, the police chief says.

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Note: This is the kind of story those in the tourist industry hate. The story has already been covered by the big international news agencies and BBC, CNN, TIME, Newsweek, the Jerusalem Post, the Washington Post, Sydney Morning Herald, the Japan Times, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, among others. And the list keeps growing. Among the latest are Fox News, The Guardian, The Independent, Sky News, The Star Online and ABC online

Great Britain's "The Guardian" is one of dozens of major foreign media organisations covering the story.

Saturday update

Here are excerpts this morning's Bangkok Post story. You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/785389/police-launch-frantic-hunt-for-is-suspects

Police launch frantic hunt for IS suspects

Post Reporters

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.

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.

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.

Friday's story

Govt urges calm after disclosure IS-linked Syrians entered Thailand

Online Reporters

National Security Council chief Gen Thawip Netniyom on Friday urged the public to remain calm following the revelation that 10 Syrians linked to the Islamic State group had entered Thailand with plans to attack Russians in popular tourist-resort cities.

A leaked police memo widely circulated Thursday night said the Syrians arrived separately in the last two weeks of October, with four dispatched to Pattaya, two to Phuket, two to Bangkok and the final pair to an unknown destination to target the interests of Russia and its allies in the country. The militants identities were not disclosed.

Gen Thawip said the public should not panic and maintained that Thai security agencies will be able to cope with the threat. At the same time, he warned the media and public to stop publishing the document, saying those doing so could be charged with violation of the Computer Crime Act.

There will be a meeting of all security agencies today to discuss this matter, Gen Thawip said.

Police had not received warnings about IS activity from any other foreign intelligence agency, Deputy Police Spokesman Songpol Wattanachai told reporters Friday, adding that police had no information about their whereabouts, identity or possible targets.

"We're still trying to work out whether they even came in," Reuters quoted him as saying when asked if they could still be in the country.

The Nov 27 memo was signed by Pol Maj Gen Sarawut Karnpanich, deputy commissioner of the Special Branch Bureau, on behalf of the commissioner. It informed commanders of the 1st-3rd divisions of the Special Branch – which handles national security matters – of a warning received from the Russian Federal Security Service that 10 Syrians related to the international terrorist group had entered Thailand between Oct 15-31.

The commanders were instructed to verify the Russian FSB information and step up security measures around "target areas that Russian authorities are concerned about" including venues associated with allies that have taken part in attacks against the Islamic State group in Syria. Allies include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Australia.

The three divisions were also ordered to update information on important locations, residential areas and tourist attractions frequented by foreigners with an emphasis on countries in conflict with the IS group.

The 3rd Special Branch Division was ordered to augment security for places and individuals related to the mentioned countries. All three divisions were to report their progress every Wednesday starting Dec 2.

Gen Thawip said the Special Branch police had been assigned to clarify the report.

He admitted the leaked letter had caused people to panic and grumbled that security work should be carried out in secret. What the public saw in the document, he added, was the cooperation of intelligence and security agencies of friendly countries.

As news of the IS group threat spread, Thai officials on Friday lined up to urged restraint and call for further verification of the information in the letter.

Maj Gen Banpot Poonphien, the Internal Security Operations Command spokesman, noted that Thailand is not party to any direct conflict with the Islamic State group.

But with a raging Muslim insurgency in the Far South, the threat of an Islamic State group incursion into Thailand has been a continual worry. Yet just last month, Gen Thawip said no IS members had come to deep South.