US, Israel issue severe terror warning of possible terrorist attacks in Bangkok

Police detained the man with suspected links to the Hizbollah militant group at Suvarnabhumi airport last night as he attempted to leave the kingdom, said Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who oversees national security.

Mr Chalerm said police have control of the the situation and urged the public not to panic.

The situation was not as severe as initially feared, he added.

The authorities had received information about the terror suspect before the US issued the warning.

The US embassy said in a message posted on its website yesterday that foreign terrorists may be in the process of looking to launch attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future.

US citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok, the embassy added.

(...) A highly placed source at the Immigration Bureau said the US embassy told Thai authorities before Christmas that it had been informed by the Israeli embassy a group of suspected militants would launch attacks in Thailand, with Western and American people as their targets.

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