target Bangkok?

[Stramash]

Terror suspect planned Bangkok attack, says website

Hezbollah planned Mumbai-style attack on Chabad Bangkok, Khao San restaurants

• Published: 17/01/2012 at 05:33 PM
• Online news: World

A detained Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist suspect was part of a planned attack on the Chabad Jewish community centre near Khao San road in Bangkok, according to a news website which specialises in intelligence reporting.
Debkafile said on Tuesday that its sources confirmed that Hussein Atris, who was arrested by Thai police at Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday night, was part of a planned attack along the lines of al Qaeda's attack on the Mumbai Chabad [Jewish] centre in 2008, involving the taking of hostages and blowing up the building. Eight Jews were killed in the attack.
The Debkafile website also has pages in Hebrew.

According to the sources quoted on the English language page, the planned attack would have been even deadlier because Chabad Bangkok is larger.

The sources also said that two or three ''Hizballah'' (sic) groups were to launch coordinated attacks simultaneously this month, and one of them was to strike at restaurants that are popular with Americans and Israelis on Khao San road.
Detained Lebanese Hizballah suspect Hussein Atris (Photo by Surapol Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn)

On the arrest of Mr Atris, Debka sources said, "Thai police were waiting for the suspect at the airport after receiving alerts from US and Israeli counter-terrorist agencies, which had advance information about the coming attack.

"The tip-off originated with Lebanese nationals living in Bangkok who had been approached for assistance. Those informants, who did not trust the local authorities to act, went straight to Western and Israeli contacts, who then published terror alerts to US and Israeli travellers."

As for other suspected Hezbollah members in Thailand, the website believed they "managed to escape by plane from Bangkok or by crossing into Laos and catching a flight there, although other sources believe they are still hiding out in Thailand waiting for another chance to strike".

National Security Council secretary-general Wichean Potephosree said the US embassy should issue its terror warning in a more subtle manner.

Pol Gen Wichean said the US embassy should have had contacted the Foreign Affairs Ministry first.

The former national police chief also questioned whether the Lebanese man carrying a Swedish passport was actually a terrorist.

"Authorities must be careful when labelling someone a terrorist as it could bring about serious consequences," he said.

Israeli authorities had warned the Thai government about possible terrorist acts each year following a terrorist bomb attack in Thailand in 1994. Both sides had been keeping in touch regularly, Pol Gen Wichean said.

Yesterday, police raided a three-storey commercial building in the Mahachai area of Samut Sakhon after Mr Atris confessed that explosive materials were hidden there.

They found 4,380 kilogrammes of urea-based fertiliser and 290 litres of ammonium nitrate, used in making explosives, but the suspect told investigators that they were not intended for use in any planned attack in Thailand. They were to be exported. Investigators were reported to have said they believed him.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...bangkok-attack


Totally contradicts the Thai perspective. Wonder how accurate this one is?

Similar Threads:

• Great clip of Bangkok : BANGKOK - DUSK TO DAWN
• UFO in Bangkok
• Bangkok Bus Map
• Looking for a job in bangkok.

[Bill Rini]

I think the part where they say that the Lebanese living in Bangkok didn't trust the Thai police and reported their suspicions directly to US and Israeli authorities pretty much adds credibility to the story.

[kaunitz]

Interesting development of the story. Just two days ago, one of the suspects could be detained due to "immigration law violations" while the other one (not ones) had been set free because of lack of evidence.

So who is trying to hide what or who is trying to mak up what?

[Bill Rini]

The part that seems really strange is that the Thai government has not met with the US embassy but has issued some strongly worded statements warning the US to shut the fuck up. This is really, really retarded. Any country has the right to warn its citizens about potential threats (in fact, the citizens demand it). Thailand issued similar shut the fuck up sort of warnings to countries that alerted their citizens against traveling to Thailand during the floods. The government also threw around a bunch of "warnings" to the German government when they seized the prince's private plane.

In mid-July, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya personally traveled to Berlin to secure the release of the plane. According to the Bangkok Post, he warned that German-Thai relations would be damaged if no satisfactory solution were found, and said German authorities were making a "huge mistake."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...776718,00.html

Wichean sceptical about bomb suspect attack plots

Published: 18/01/2012 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: News

National Security Council secretary-general Wichean Potephosree has admitted he is unsure if Swedish-Lebanese terror suspect Hussein Atris is actually involved in planning terrorist attacks.

Pol Gen Wichean, former national police chief, yesterday warned officials to be more careful in handling the case and not to jump to any conclusions.

Arresting and detaining the suspect without bringing a charge of terrorism against him could have adverse repercussions, Pol Gen Wichean said.

Mr Atris, a Lebanese man carrying a Swedish passport, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday. Police believed he had links to the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

On Monday, police seized a huge cache of bomb-making material during a raid at a building in the Mahachai area of Samut Sakhon after questioning Mr Atris. They found 4.4 tonnes of urea-based fertiliser and 290 litres of ammonium nitrate. Investigators said the suspect told them they were not intended for use in any planned attacks in Thailand and were to be exported.

Police have charged Mr Atris with possession of prohibited substances in violation of the Arms Control Act.

Pol Gen Wichean said Israel had issued terror alerts for Thailand several times since 1994. He also urged the US to be more subtle in dealing with the issue by liaising with the Foreign Ministry first before announcing alerts.

"I want the US to have some manners by talking to the Foreign Ministry first," Pol Gen Wichean said.

Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkaew yesterday invited Judith Cefkin, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy, to discuss the US warning about possible terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Mr Atris was yesterday taken to the Border Patrol Police Bureau on Phahon Yothin Road for further questioning. Deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat, head of the investigators handling the case, said officers would summon more witnesses for questioning and check the law to determine if the case is terrorism-related.

Assistant national police chief Charamporn Suramanee said police believed there could be other people involved, although Mr Atris is the only person facing charges at present.

A source at the Metropolitan Police Bureau said Mr Atris had admitted to ordering and buying the seized chemicals, but insisted he did not know they were prohibited under Thai law.

Mr Atris told investigators the substances were supposed to be shipped to the Middle East and Africa for medical use, the source said.

The Criminal Court yesterday approved a police request to continue detaining Mr Atris pending further inquiries.

He will remain in custody at Bangkok Remand Prison for 12 days, starting from yesterday.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Winai Thongsong said that no charge of terrorism had been brought against Mr Atris and that the US and Israel had not been in contact to seek the extradition of the suspect.

Pol Lt Gen Winai also said an investigation based on intelligence reports from the US and Israel found that six months ago another group of three Lebanese men had also arrived in the Mahachai area.

Police believed the three may be linked to Hezbollah, although there was no confirmation if they were still in the country, Pol Lt Gen Winai said, adding that Thailand would only be their resting point, not their target.

A police source said US authorities had asked to attend the questioning of Mr Atris, but Thai investigators have turned down their request.

[kaunitz]

The part that seems really strange is that the Thai government has not met with the US embassy but has issued some strongly worded statements warning the US to shut the fuck up. This is really, really retarded. Any country has the right to warn its citizens about potential threats (in fact, the citizens demand it). Thailand issued similar shut the fuck up sort of warnings to countries that alerted their citizens against traveling to Thailand during the floods.

I'm afraid this is a policy that is run in Thailand and that really does not make life easier for especially but not only expats. This "I don't see you so you are not here" policy is utterly dangerous and also annoying. If there is a issue (whatever it is - floods, terrorist threats, bush fires - you name it), it has to be addressed as soon as possible in order to minimize damage. This obviously is a thinking that has not got through to the highest level of those who are responsible for the country.

I have experienced this behaviour on the "normal citicen's" level, which might be incurred due to cultural and traditional reasons but I strongly oppose politicians who close their eyes to the obvious.

Of course, there are some issues that are overrated by media and some groups that try to take benefit of certain circumstances. Nevertheless - increasing security measures on crowded places as long as there is a given (not only alleged) suspicion of possible terrorist threats would help a lot. Although police is widely seen as corrupt, people read newspapers and if they see an increased presence of police, they rather would be reassured than irritated (if police is doing a proper job).

[kaunitz]

I'm afraid this is a policy that is run in Thailand and that really does not make life easier for especially but not only expats. This "I don't see you so you are not here" policy is utterly dangerous and also annoying. If there is a issue (whatever it is - floods, terrorist threats, bush fires - you name it), it has to be addressed as soon as possible in order to minimize damage. This obviously is a thinking that has not got through to the highest level of those who are responsible for the country.

I have experienced this behaviour on the "normal citicen's" level, which might be incurred due to cultural and traditional reasons but I strongly oppose politicians who close their eyes to the obvious.

Of course, there are some issues that are overrated by media and some groups that try to take benefit of certain circumstances. Nevertheless - increasing security measures on crowded places as long as there is a given (not only alleged) suspicion of possible terrorist threats would help a lot. Although police is widely seen as corrupt, people read newspapers and if they see an increased presence of police, they rather would be reassured than irritated (if police is doing a proper job).

On the other hand, we have to face that US government very often is overreacting. Anyhow, this does not justify Thai authorities to tell them to "shut up" but they should go for more detailed information in order to get a more detailed picture.

Geeeez, JC2X is failing, as I see!

[Bill Rini]

On the other hand, we have to face that US government very often is overreacting. Anyhow, this does not justify Thai authorities to tell them to "shut up" but they should go for more detailed information in order to get a more detailed picture.

Geeeez, JC2X is failing, as I see!

I'm less concerned about whether or not the US is correct or not. It's the Thai government's threats. I think I mentioned this in a post a few months ago but the next time you're reading The Bangkok Post or The Nation notice the number of times they use the word "warned." Not in the, "Hey, we're warning citizens not to play in traffic" sort of way but in the "We're warning you that if you don't give us our plane back we'll retaliate" way.

Even during the red shirt protests, they put out some video of Abhisit meeting with the red shirt leaders and at least twice he was "warned" by the red shirts to be more respectful because he was addressing someone elder to him. Meanwhile they acted like a bunch of immature idiots rolling their eyes and making faces whenever Abhisit responded to anything they said.

Like you said in your previous post, it all boils down to the tendency of the government to not act on anything until there is a problem (or there's money to be made). However, it also reeks of the same sort of cover up that happened in Chiang Mai with the five people who died at the Downtown Inn. How else can they explain how some foreigner came into possession of 4,500 kg of bomb making materials right under the Thai police's noses?

[kaunitz]

I'm less concerned about whether or not the US is correct or not. It's the Thai government's threats. I think I mentioned this in a post a few months ago but the next time you're reading The Bangkok Post or The Nation notice the number of times they use the word "warned." Not in the, "Hey, we're warning citizens not to play in traffic" sort of way but in the "We're warning you that if you don't give us our plane back we'll retaliate" way.

Even during the red shirt protests, they put out some video of Abhisit meeting with the red shirt leaders and at least twice he was "warned" by the red shirts to be more respectful because he was addressing someone elder to him. Meanwhile they acted like a bunch of immature idiots rolling their eyes and making faces whenever Abhisit responded to anything they said.

Like you said in your previous post, it all boils down to the tendency of the government to not act on anything until there is a problem (or there's money to be made). However, it also reeks of the same sort of cover up that happened in Chiang Mai with the five people who died at the Downtown Inn. How else can they explain how some foreigner came into possession of 4,500 kg of bomb making materials right under the Thai police's noses?

Well, for your last paragraph, I don't know but it's frightening enough.

For the rest, yes, you are right, and it obviously is the way, whether we (farang) can understand or not. In my opinion, noone ever addresses the real threat but only the threat to seniority and/or his own dignity. Action never is taken, just warning, as you said. and obviously, everyone knows what this means and does whatever he wants.

There is a similar thing going on in Kosovo with a movement called "self determination" under its leader Albin Kurti. Funny enough, they always claim that they would protest peacefully but ONLY their protests turn out to end up with scores of injured - police as well as their own supporters.

Is it really necessary to have injured and dead, might it be out of protests or attacks, to change views from an "extremely soft approach" to what it really would need to be?

[Bill Rini]

Atris' Swedish passport in doubt

The government of Sweden cannot confirm that detained Lebanese Hezbollah terror suspect Hussein Atris is a Swedish national, Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Anders Jorle said in a report posted on the New York Times website.
There was some uncertainty about Atris' documents, the NY Times said. Thai authorities said he was travelling with two passports, one Lebanese and one Swedish.
Anders Jorle, a spokesman for the Swedish Foreign Ministry, said the Swedish passport had expired, despite an image of the main page of the passport circulating in the Thai media that appears to show expiration in 2015, the report said.

Swedish officials had asked to meet with Mr Atris. “We have not seen this person or met him,” Mr. Jorle said by telephone from Stockholm. "We cannot confirm whether he is a Swedish national."

The report also cites Bangkok as a major hub for passport counterfeiting, drug trafficking and other illicit activities. American officials say that Hezbollah does have a footprint here; using Bangkok as a centre for a cocaine and money-laundering network, according to the NY Times report.

Meanwhile, United States ambassador Kristie Kenney said on Twitter that the US will not revoke its warning to US nationals to beware of a "real and credible" threat of a terrorist attack in Bangkok.

Ms Kenney said the embassy had been in close touch with Thai authorities and that US citizens in Bangkok should avoid Khao San road and Sukhumvit soi 22.Both areas that are popular with foreign tourists. There is also a large Jewish community centre in a side street off soi 22.

However, Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimapakorn was adamant Wednesday that Thailand is not a target of terrorists.

"In the past 10 years, Thailand has not seen any terrorist incidents.

"Although Thailand is an open country for travellers, I'm confident that the various agenmcies have efficient measures in place [to deal with terrorism]," Gen Thanasak said.

He also praised the police for uncovering the large cache of bomb-making materials in Samut Sakhon's Mahachai area on Monday. The discovery came after detained Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist suspect Atris confessed to the hidden bomb warehouse.

"The police are working efficiently and I ask the people not be worried because security and intelligence units always work closely together," said the former chief of staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.

Thai police arrested Mr Atris at Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday night after receiving alerts from US and Israeli counter-terrorist agencies of an immediate terrorist attack threat in Bangkok.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/secu...nality-unclear

[koolbreez]

In all of this there is one important fact that almost upholds the Thai statement of nothing planned in Thailand, and it was all to be shipped out.

For an ammonium nitrate bomb to work the fertilizer has to be saturated, and soaked in deisel fuel, and not just have it poored over the fertilizer at the last minute. In all the video of the authorities with their 200 man task force emptying the warehouse there was absolutely NO deisel fuel found. For this to be a bomb making location there would have been at least one 55 gallon barrel with deisel fuel in it. They found the fan boxes, and printing paper, they were very thorough in showing the media all the things they found, but there was no deisel.

Without this key component the fertilizer is not an explosive, and with all the high ranking officials there if they found any it would have been presented to the media.

There was also no mercury blasting caps found, which is needed to set it all off, another key component, and they would have showed them off if they found any, or if they were smart they could hide them, but they would not have been able to hide the amount of deisel needed.

Because of this fact I am tempted to believe that there was not a plan to bomb Thailand, at least not Bangkok. I am more inclined to believe this was all to be shipped, and was being shipped to the deep South. The last few bombs going off there have been ammonium nitrate bombs. I do believe inadvertently they found where the supplies for the Southern terrorists were coming from.