News about bombings
The six international airports of Thailand are, according to Israel, the target of a terrorist attack. The security level has been increased from (the normal) level 2 to 3.
Priewpan Damapong, chief of the national police, denies reports that the detained Iranians were targeting the Israeli defense minister, who was scheduled to transfer to another plane at Suvarnabhumi on Wednesday. However, after the explosions on Tuesday, this was abandoned.
– The MRT (underground metro) has tightened its security measures at the stations. The railways have also taken extra measures at all stations. The BTS (overground metro) says that the stations are always safe.
– Although Thailand has no extradition treaty with Malaysia, it is still about the extradition of the Iranian who was arrested there on Wednesday. Thailand will use a treaty for this that has been concluded with Great Britain, the former colonizer of Malaysia.
– There is now a fifth suspect, also a man from the Middle East.
– A woman who escorted Khazei (the man who lost his legs) from February 8 to 13 in Pattaya has reported to the police. On her mobile phone she had pictures of the three Iranians in the company of her and two friends. Nan, as she is called, says she has not seen anything suspicious on the hotel room from Khazei. Once he stopped her when she wanted to look in a closet.
Police have taken her to Bangkok to make Khazei, who has been admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital, feel more comfortable. Before, he was stressed and didn't eat, but after Nan's appearance, he relaxed and ate again, according to Priewpan.
– The government is under fire for trying to downplay the events in Bangkok. Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul has stated that the detained Iranians were assembling bombs in Thailand for use in other countries and Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprasa told parliament that there is no terrorist plot.
Opposition leader Abhisit thinks Surapong is sending the wrong signal. Other countries might think that Thailand is not taking the problem seriously.
Panitan Wattanayahorn, a security analyst at Chulalongkorn University, says the government cannot deny that the suspects planned a terrorist attack. The government is being lighthearted about the explosions, because admitting they were a terrorist attack could scare away foreign tourists.
According to Panitan, the government must face the truth that the country is lax on security, even though Thailand is a tourist destination. 12 million foreigners visit Thailand every year. Tourism accounts for 6 percent of gross domestic product.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post