Bangkok police chief tells public to stay calm over IS report

[webfact]

Bangkok police chief tells public to stay calm over IS report



BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police commissioner today calmed thee public over intelligence report by Russian Federal Security Services (FSB) warning of the entry of 10 Syrians with IS links into Thailand with aim to hit Russian and allies interests in Thailand.

The commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahatavorn said it remained not clear if the warning document allegedly leaked from the Special Branch Bureau is authentic.

He said authorities needed to verify the document as at present there were forged official documents coming in public.

He then asked the public to remain calm and not to panic over such report in the media.

He said people who forged such document will be dealt with severe penalty as they incite public disorder that could extensively damage the economy.

However he assured that metropolitan police would be able to control the situation.

Earlier this morning several Thai media ran breaking news saying the Russian intelligence agency FSB has warned Thailand of the entry of 10 Syrian nationals with links to the Islamic State with intention to hit Russian interests in Thailand, as well as allied countries fighting the IS in Syria.

According to Matichon Online, INN and Channel 3, they quoted a document allegedly released by Pol Maj Gen Sravuth Kanpanich, acting commissioner of the Special Branch Bureau, as stating that the FSB’s warning was first directed to the National Security Council (NSC) which later alerted the Royal Thai Police’s Special Branch Bureau to monitor the movements of these Syrian nationals closely,

FSB said these Syrians have entered Thailand during October 15-31. It said four have gone to Pattaya, 2 to Phuket, 2 in Bangkok, while whereabouts of two others and their identities remain unknown.

The NSC instructed tightened security at embassies of Russia, and allied countries fighting the IS, namely the United States, France United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Australia to prevent untoward violence to happen in the country.

According to the Special Branch Police, 400 Syrian nationals entered the country during the past several months and they carried tourist visas.


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-04

[WitawatWatawit]

Has anyone phoned Pol Maj Gen Sravuth to ask him if the document is real? Or is that too much to expect?

[londonthai]

the commissioner should not comment on the issue, if he suspected that the document was forged.

I do think, that for whatever reason thai police intentionally warned those 8 known to them and those 2 unknown to clear off. They might be already leaving the country, and the second cell will take over the job.

a clear message to russians, that's thailand is dependent on cia country

[lovelomsak]

So what are the Russian interests in Thailand they could hit? A russian restaurant? A russian go go bar? etc etc etc. Why should others worry no one but russians go to their hangouts no one else goes to russian places but russians. So the general public has nothing to worry about right.Just get on with their lifes let the russians worry about it.

[zaphod reborn]

No reason to panic. Nothing has changed. ISIS has been operating here for years under our protection, for which we have been nicely rewarded. See how we were able to completely whitewash the Erawan Shrine bombing so that no one connected it to the trafficking to Uighurs through Thailand by ISIS.

[chrisinth]

You would think, or rather like to think, that if the leaked document was not authentic it would have been discredited by now by the intelligence community.

Keeping people guessing one way or the other only causes more paranoia and the terrorists win anyway.

[NCC1701A]

"It said four have gone to Pattaya, 2 to Phuket, 2 in Bangkok, while whereabouts of two others and their identities remain unknown."

Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok. Ok, we know what happened to them.

the other two just used the last of their "IS terror cell funding money" to buy their new girlfriends houses in Korat.

They are at the airport now begging for a ticket home.

[Chang_paarp]

Anyone asked the Russians?

[Hawk]

while whereabouts of two others and their identities remain unknown."

If they don't know their identities then how do they even know that they are Syrians?

[WitawatWatawit]

So what are the Russian interests in Thailand they could hit? A russian restaurant? A russian go go bar? etc etc etc. Why should others worry no one but russians go to their hangouts no one else goes to russian places but russians. So the general public has nothing to worry about right.Just get on with their lifes let the russians worry about it.

Did you really mean to be this callous and insensitive?

Does the expression "collateral damage" mean anything to you? Or "innocent Thai workers"? Or "innocent passers-by"?

[MZurf]

Has anyone phoned Pol Maj Gen Sravuth to ask him if the document is real? Or is that too much to expect?

In one word; yes.

[Carl64]

So what are the Russian interests in Thailand they could hit? A russian restaurant? A russian go go bar? etc etc etc. Why should others worry no one but russians go to their hangouts no one else goes to russian places but russians. So the general public has nothing to worry about right.Just get on with their lifes let the russians worry about it.

Are you familiar with the Bali bombing???

[londonthai]

in the news

"Thai security was placed at maximum after the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) warned Thailand to keep watch on 10 Syrian nationals who it said have entered Thailand and they have links to the Islam State (IS) group"

so the document is authentic and by leaking it thai spooks wanted to hinder relations with russia.

now watch for bombs, thanks to thai security services. They won't be able to hit ambassies and diplomats, who are protected and armed, but tourists travelling by busses, trains to/from the airport, new year eve's parties

[oneday]

"...with aim to hit Russian and allies interests..."

Thank goodness the US is not an ally of Russia so we should be safe...555...fat chance of that.

"...He then asked the public to remain calm and not to panic over such report in the media..."

I see 3 options Mr. Policeman. The public can panic, they can remain calm or they can give some reasoned thought to the possibility of this being true and consider staying away from crowded areas that might be obvious targets of mass murder...at least until the RTP catch all of these terrorists...555...fat chance of that. They don't even know if this document is real...anyone heard of a wonderful invention called the phone?

[clockman]

Do not panic, because this will effect tourism!

[Gweiloman]

Has anyone phoned Pol Maj Gen Sravuth to ask him if the document is real? Or is that too much to expect?

You are exhibiting a logical thought process. You are obviously a newcomer to Thailand.....(just joking)

[whatproblem]

Don't worry about Isis ,worry about traveling on the roads

[Lupatria]

Does anyone know if the Russian Embassy issued any travel warning for their citizen?

Edit: I just had a look at their website- Njet! No travel warning! I find this rather strange...

[retarius]

Very sensible advice from the BiB. Keep calm and avoid panic at all costs. You are still more likely to be shot dead by a cop while unarmed, in the US than you are to be killed in a terrorist attack, and the BiB here are much less trigger happy than the boys are back Stateside. So enjoy your holiday.

[bridge2bridge]

So what are the Russian interests in Thailand they could hit? A russian restaurant? A russian go go bar? etc etc etc. Why should others worry no one but russians go to their hangouts no one else goes to russian places but russians. So the general public has nothing to worry about right.Just get on with their lifes let the russians worry about it.

ISIS is not only after the Russians.

Look what has happened all over the world.

This SCUM are Radical Murderers.

[rtco]

"he assured that metropolitan police would be able to control the situation" ... yeh right!!!

[Time Traveller]

Stay calm peeps, you're more likely to be decapitated or burnt to death in a car accident in thailand than by the ISIS

[bark]

Has anyone phoned Pol Maj Gen Sravuth to ask him if the document is real? Or is that too much to expect?

If the the Syrians came on Oct. 15 th( three weeks ago) or Oct. 31( one week ago), it should be long enough to confirm if the document was real.

Also why hasn't Pol Maj Gen Sravuth Kanpanich, shared this information to commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahatavorn( His boss ) ?

[londonthai]

Does anyone know if the Russian Embassy issued any travel warning for their citizen?

Edit: I just had a look at their website- Njet! No travel warning! I find this rather strange...

it's only 9:20am in moscow, ministry of foreign affairs just opened. They would have to talk first with their security department. After that only embassies are allowed to reprint the warning.

they are now in a middle of a heat up with turkish

[bark]

So what are the Russian interests in Thailand they could hit? A russian restaurant? A russian go go bar? etc etc etc. Why should others worry no one but russians go to their hangouts no one else goes to russian places but russians. So the general public has nothing to worry about right.Just get on with their lifes let the russians worry about it.

Are you familiar with the Bali bombing???

Yes I agree with you. In Bali, they thought the Bar would be full of Americans( who they were targeting). Tell that to the Aussie relatives.

Also the the staff who were working in the bar were all Indo natives ( muslims).

[londonthai]

Has anyone phoned Pol Maj Gen Sravuth to ask him if the document is real? Or is that too much to expect?

If the the Syrians came on Oct. 15 th( three weeks ago) or Oct. 31( one week ago), it should be long enough to confirm if the document was real.

Also why hasn't Pol Maj Gen Sravuth Kanpanich, shared this information to commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahatavorn( His boss ) ?

the russiand gave a tip only on 27.11, over a month after syrians entered thailand.

the thai document was leaked only yesterday evening.

the thai police and spooks are playning the game, denying any responsibility for the incoming tragedy

[webfact]

Police is investigating presence of Syrians in Thailand
The Nation, Reuters

BANGKOK: -- Thai police are investigating into a report that ten Syrians related to Islamic State entered Thailand in October with a possible plan to attack Russian interests, a deputy police spokesman said Friday.

In a leaked police document, the Russian Federal Security Service alerted the Thai authorities about the presence of the Syrians who travelled to many cities including Pattaya and Phuket.

Deputy spokesman Pol Maj Gen Songpon Wattanachai confirmed the document was real.

In the document, Special Branch police urged an intensification of security around "target areas that Russian authorities are concerned about" including venues associated with allies that have taken part in attacks on Islamic State in Syria.

Russia began air strikes in Syria on Sept. 30 and hasstepped up attacks in recent weeks. An Islamic State affiliateclaimed responsibility for downing a Russian airliner over Egyptin October, killing all 224 people on board.

Two senior police officers told Reuters that the Special Branch, which deals with national security issues, circulated the document to other police units.

According to the document dated Nov 27, the Russian intelligence agency warned Special Branch police that the Syrians entered Thailand between Oct 15 and Oct 31. The document was circulating on social media on Thursday.

"The document is real. We received it from Special Branch," said one of the police officers, who handles international crime matters. He declined to be identified because of the sensitivityof the matter.

"I have to deal with this issue now," he said. "The original communication was by word of mouth between Russian and Thaipolice. I don’t know how the document leaked."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Police-is-investigating-presence-of-Syrians-in-Tha-30274307.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-04

[cockatoowho]

Another attempt to distract us all away from the big issue of the moment, the Army corruption.

[DaveinAsia]

If RTP tells the public to remain calm I suggest the opposite. They are only worried about loses this high season. The endless lies.
Russia doesn't issue travel warnings so easily as the west. Russians are not so scared and can take care of themselves.
FSB know what they are talking about, unlike RTP

[Howiehotspur]

So they know who 6 of them are and where they went too .

So they are not staying in hotels , otherwise they would know where they are staying as well .

So they own property ?

Or they have gone though an agent to rent property ?

2 of them they know nothing about .. So how do they actually know anything ?

I think a red herring springs to mind .