Stockpile of explosive materials found

[FarangFarang]

Police have found more than 4,300 kilogrammes of urea based fertiliser and other materials used for making explosives in a building in Samut Sakhon's Muang district after the arrest of a middle-east terrorist suspect, national police chief Priewpan Damapong said Monday.

More than 200 police raided a three-storey commercial building in Mahachai area after Atris Hussein, a Lebanese man carrying a Swedish passport who has suspected links to the Hezbollah militant group was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday evening. He confessed that explosive ingredients were hidden there, Pol Gen Priewpan said.

He said 4,380 kilogrammes of urea based fertiliser, 260 litres of ammonium nitrate and 400 electric fans were found on the second floor of the building. The police also discovered many pairs of slippers, A4 paper and 400 table fans on the ground floor.

The terror suspect told investigators that the terrorist group had not been planning attacks in Thailand. It just wanted to hide the components in Thailand. They were then to be concealed inside table fan boxes and shipped to other countries, according to the suspect, Pol Gen Priewpan said.

He said the suspect had rented the building from Kritsana Promchana on Jan 1, 2010 and the explosive materials had been hidden in the building for quite some time.

"Mr Atris wanted to tell the Thai people that they should not be worried as there will be no terrorist attacks in Thailand, definitely," said the police chief.

Assistant police chief Charamporn Suramanee said the urea based fertiliser and ammonia nitrate will be kept at the military's Quartermaster's Department for further inspection.

Pol Lt Gen Charamporn said possession of these items made a person liable to a five-year prison term and a fine of 50,000 baht.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Winai Thongsong said Mr Atris will remain in police custody and the national police chief would decide on issues of extradition and deportation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed confidence that security authorities can control the situation.

She said Pol Gen Priewpan had briefed her on the discovery of the explosive materials.

"More security staff have been deployed to many public areas and people should not be worried about their security," Ms Yingluck said.

When reporters asked her about Israel's comment that an attack would occur before Feb 12, the premier said there will be no such incident before that day.

"We can assure the safety of the people and foreign tourists. I've instructed the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with other countries, so please be at ease," Ms Yingluck said.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Kowit Wattana also insisted said the government will ensure the people's safety and that they need not be concerned about the terrorist warnings issued by several foreign governments.

He said the Special Branch Police, international police and the Royal Thai Police have been working together following the terror suspect's arrest.

"At this time, there is no information of any terrorist activity and I ask the public not to be worried," Pol Gen Kowit said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/275394/stockpile-of-explosive-materials-found

This is one of those stories that makes me want to punch people in the face. It's so full of lies, bullshit, and outright stupidity I can't tell who I'm more angry with, the people who said this shit or the the reporters who printed it without noting how full of shit the people who said it are.

He said 4,380 kilogrammes of urea based fertiliser, 260 litres of ammonium nitrate and 400 electric fans were found on the second floor of the building.

So, a foreigner in Thailand was able to get all of this stuff without raising any red flags with the Thai authorities? Oh, and he did it all by himself since capturing one Lebanese dude seems to have concluded the investigation, right?

The terror suspect told investigators that the terrorist group had not been planning attacks in Thailand. It just wanted to hide the components in Thailand. They were then to be concealed inside table fan boxes and shipped to other countries, according to the suspect, Pol Gen Priewpan said.

Ahhhh, well, if the terrorist told you he had no plans to blow up any bombs in Thailand then you gotta take him at his word. Terrorists don't lie.

Also, doesn't it seem a tad odd that the police strongly stress that there were no plans to bomb Thailand while PM Yingluck is pleading with the US and UK to retract their terrorism warnings which they fear will harm tourism? Really?

"More security staff have been deployed to many public areas and people should not be worried about their security," Ms Yingluck said.

This is how you tell the difference between a competent government and one that is just pretending to be a government.

Wouldn't the correct message to get across be:

PM FarangFarang said, "We were lucky that we were able to catch this person in a timely manner however the government would still like to remind people to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious packages or people to their local police. While we believe that we've captured everyone involved, and there is no evidence that Thailand had not been a target for the bombs, until we've exhausted every lead and have a better understanding of the suspect's activities and intentions, please use extra caution."

When reporters asked her about Israel's comment that an attack would occur before Feb 12, the premier said there will be no such incident before that day.

"We can assure the safety of the people and foreign tourists. I've instructed the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with other countries, so please be at ease," Ms Yingluck said.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Kowit Wattana also insisted said the government will ensure the people's safety and that they need not be concerned about the terrorist warnings issued by several foreign governments.

No offense there PM Yingluck but given the choice of believing Israeli and US intelligence or Thailand's always ready to give themselves a pat on the back police force, I'll stick with the US and Israel. Oh, and considering that this guy accumulated 4,500 kg of bomb making materials in Thailand without the police being aware of it and only making the arrest after the US and Israel issued warnings about this guy . . . . uhm, yeah, I'm going to put my money on US and Israel, thank you.

[FarangFarang]

Well . . . so much for that "no attacks planned in Bangkok" bullshit

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 PMOnline 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.

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/local/275565/terror-suspect-planned-bangkok-attack

[koolbreez]

All that was needed were some 55 gallon barrels, the ammonium nitrate fertalizer filled to the brim, then saturate with diesel fuel until it is dripping, but not totally covered, a small mercury cap to set it off, and you've got one of the most explosive mixtures available. A small single trailer semi truck could have hauled it easily to any location in the city. I wonder how many other storage facilities the advanced team also outfitted?

We used that mixture to blast hard granite rock very effectively, then Timothy McVey used about 300 pounds of the stuff to blow the whole front off the Oklahoma Federal building years back.

4 tons, if all of it was used, would have taken out most the Banglampho area, and Khao San road, not just the Chibad center, and left a crater about 10meters deep.

[kaunitz]

No need to go ballistic now. As in BKK, also in other areas of big cities similar things have been found. Mainly done by some stupid copycats that in reality do not have anything to do with the world-wide net of terrorism. Still, you have to be vigilant but I would not move around in Bkk with more fear as I would in Vienna.

[Admin_2]

All that was needed were some 55 gallon barrels, the ammonium nitrate fertalizer filled to the brim, then saturate with diesel fuel until it is dripping, but not totally covered, a small mercury cap to set it off, and you've got one of the most explosive mixtures available. A small single trailer semi truck could have hauled it easily to any location in the city. I wonder how many other storage facilities the advanced team also outfitted?

We used that mixture to blast hard granite rock very effectively, then Timothy McVey used about 300 pounds of the stuff to blow the whole front off the Oklahoma Federal building years back.

4 tons, if all of it was used, would have taken out most the Banglampho area, and Khao San road, not just the Chibad center, and left a crater about 10meters deep.

"All of the warning signs were there. It was as if he was telling us what he was about to do, but none of us acted on it."

[kaunitz]

All that was needed were some 55 gallon barrels, the ammonium nitrate fertalizer filled to the brim, then saturate with diesel fuel until it is dripping, but not totally covered, a small mercury cap to set it off, and you've got one of the most explosive mixtures available. A small single trailer semi truck could have hauled it easily to any location in the city. I wonder how many other storage facilities the advanced team also outfitted?

We used that mixture to blast hard granite rock very effectively, then Timothy McVey used about 300 pounds of the stuff to blow the whole front off the Oklahoma Federal building years back.

4 tons, if all of it was used, would have taken out most the Banglampho area, and Khao San road, not just the Chibad center, and left a crater about 10meters deep.

So, are you from the U.S.?

If so, or if not so, why would you like to enter the U.S. territory?

Does your record of knowledge of explosives have anything to do with you (re-)entering the U.S.?

Did you test your knowledge of explosive devices on hard granite in order to calculate how to use it on sky scraper concrete? (sorry, disregard the last as officials never will ask such a brain-using question)

Although you marked NO on the questions "Are you a Terrorist" and "Do you enter the U.S. to harm any official bodies or institutions" - why would you, with your expertise, want to enter the U.S. and why exactly today?

Is hard granite more difficult to blast than sky-scraper steel-concrete?

Sir, I am sorry but I have to ask you to follow me as we have some more questions. Please - yes! - put your hands on the back - no, it's not a punitive action, it is just according to our rules and regulations. Please tell if the handcuffs hurt you, Sir. Now, please follow me, at the moment, no statements are required, the investigation team will tell you about your rights.....

[warren]

I believe Thailand has been a target for a long time, with so many western foreigners living and travelling their it would be naive to think otherwise.

When I read this article I couldn't help but think what happened in Bali.