ID :
325548
Mon, 04/21/2014 - 10:42
Auther :

Security intensified at Israeli communities in Thailand

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - Thai police have stepped up security measures at several communities in Bangkok where Israelis reside, following a recent arrest of two men suspected of being foreign terrorists. Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Police Major General Thitirat Nonghanpitak told journalists of the update, following last Friday’s meeting between a diplomatic official of the Israeli Embassy to Thailand and Metropolitan Police Chief Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Thoopkrachang and himself. Police Major General Thitirat said the Israeli envoy requested that Thai police beef up security measures at an Israeli church, located in Khao San Road in the capital, where many foreign tourists stay, and six other places which could be hit by terrorists from April 18-22, when Israelis celebrate the Passover Festival, marking the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. This year, the festival began on sunset of April 14 and ends on nightfall of April 22. The two men suspected of being terrorists were earlier apprehended during the Songkran or Traditional Thai New Year Festival, officially set from April 13-16. Both were nabbed on suspicion of having links to Hezbollah, an Islamist militant group. After interrogations, it was still unclear whether they were members of the militant group. One of them holds a French passport, while the other has a Philippine passport. Both were born in Lebanon. Senior police officers have asked people not to be panic following the arrest, as there were no signs of violence that could occur in Thailand, where is also not considered a target of terrorists. (TNA)

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