What a leaked Thai police document says about ISIS in Southeast Asia
An official document leaked in Thailand exposes concerns that conflict between Russia and Islamic State (IS) militants could manifest itself within the country.
According to a document produced by Thailand's Special Branch police which was leaked on Thursday, ten Syrians linked to IS entered Thailand last October. Officials fear they could target Russian interests in the country. The document instructs law enforcement to increase security around any potential target areas.聽
鈥淭he document is real. ,鈥� a police officer told Reuters. 鈥淭he original communication was by word of mouth between Russian and Thai police. I don鈥檛 know how the document leaked.鈥�
According to the document, four of the suspects traveled to the seaside city Pattaya, two to Phuket, two to Bangkok and two to an unknown destination. The men allegedly are in Thailand to target Russians, who frequently vacation in Thailand. In 2013, visited the country.
Authorities, however, are still working to confirm the facts 鈥� including whether the threat is real.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still trying to ,鈥� Deputy Police Spokesman Songpol Wattanachai told reporters. 鈥淲e have yet to find any unusual movement. Everything is safe, rest assured.鈥�
There are an estimated 700 to 1,000 foreign Islamist fighters in the Southeast Asian region, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
鈥淭here is a definite connection between Southeast Asia and Syria,鈥� UNODC regional representative Jeremy Douglas told Reuters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very plausible that foreign fighters could transit through Bangkok to and from the Middle East.鈥�
鈥淧ost-Sinai, Russian intelligence is going to be asking 鈥樷�欌�� said Anthony Davis, a Bankok-based security analyst told Reuters. 鈥淭hailand is going to be right at the top of their list.鈥�
The released document comes just one month after a Russian plane was attacked over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 passengers.聽Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
