The New York Times  |  January 13, 2012

Arrest in Thailand After U.S. Terror Alert

By J. David Goodman

Thai and foreign tourists tour the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand. Courtesy: Haaretz.com/ Photo by: AP

Amid public warnings from the United States and Israel of a possible terror attack, Thai officials said Friday that they had arrested a Lebanese man believed to be a member of Hezbollah in connection with a plot to strike tourists in Bangkok.

Thailand's deputy prime minister, Chalerm Yubamrung, said that the arrest came after weeks of coordination with Israel that began with a tip-off in late December. In an interview with Thai television, he said the Israeli government had informed Thai officials that "a group of people who appear to be from the Lebanese group Hezbollah" were planning to strike tourist sites in Bangkok in mid-January.

The country's defense minister, Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha, said the plot may have involved using a car bomb at tourist sites, synagogues and the Israeli Embassy. He said Israel intelligence agents first informed authorities in Thailand on Dec. 22 that two or three men were suspected of plotting an attack in Bangkok, the Thai capital.

On Sunday, the agents again warned of an attack, possibly set to occur the following weekend at a site popular with Western tourists, like Khao San Road, where many backpackers and other visitors congregate, General Yuthasak said in an interview with the Thai newspaper Naewna.

He said that security agencies from Thailand and Israel cooperated in tracking the men and that one of them had been arrested and was now being questioned. "Apart from this, U.S. officials have asked Thai officials to track down the terrorists," he said, adding that some Israelis living in Thailand also have American citizenship.

Earlier Friday, the American Embassy in Bangkok issued an emergency message on its Web site, warning of a possible attack by "foreign terrorists" against Americans in Thailand.

The Israeli government's counterterrorism bureau followed suit shortly afterward, issuing an unusually stern warning to Israeli citizens to avoid visiting Bangkok in the near future. For Israelis already there, it urged them to avoid places where Israelis are known to congregate and to reject packages from unknown people there. It also told them to obey the instructions of Thai security officials.

The warning by Israel highlighted its concern that an attack could be carried out against Israeli tourists or residents.

An Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that while he could not officially confirm what the Thai deputy prime minister said about cooperation between the two countries' security services, it was clear from the warning that there had been communication and coordination. He added that despite the arrest, the danger was far from over.

Thai officials, however, attempted to calm nerves in the capital by reassuring residents that they had control over the situation. "I would like to tell the Thai people and foreigners that you can be free of worries from what the U.S. Embassy has warned because Thai authorities have known about this before New Year's Day," Mr. Chalerm, the deputy prime minister, said. "Thailand is a polite country. Terrorism can happen anywhere else, but in Thailand? No, we will not allow you to do so."

The embassy alert, addressed to American citizens, warned that "foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future" and urged "caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok."

Tourism is one of Thailand's major industries, and millions of foreigners visit the capital each year, according to Thai government statistics.

Mr. Chalerm told The Associated Press that the authorities had been tracking at least two men but arrested only one, who was being held in connection with possible immigration violations. "Technically, the two men have not committed any crimes under the Thai law, so we could only use the immigration law to keep this one suspect in custody," he said.

Poypiti Amatatham contributed reporting from Bangkok and Ethan Bronner from Jerusalem.

Original article here.