| Southeast Asia |
| Detention of Iranian Bomb Suspect Extended in Thailand |
| 2012-02-23 |
| A Thai court on Wednesday allowed police to continue to detain one of five Iranian suspects in an alleged terror plot that was exposed by an accidental blast in a residential Bangkok neighborhood. Police Maj. Gen. Piya Uthayo said Mohammad Kharzei, 42, will be held at a Bangkok prison for at least 12 more days. He was incarcerated on charges of being an accomplice to possession of unlawful explosives and causing kabooms that damaged property and harmed other people. Three men identified as Iranians decamped the house where the blast occurred Feb. 14. Police found bombs in the house, but are still not clear about the suspects' intentions. There is speculation that they planned to attack Israeli targets in the Thai capital as part of a covert battle being waged over Iran's alleged quest to develop nuclear weapons. The kabooms Feb. 14 came one day after two other incidents in India and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia in which bombers tried to hit Israeli targets with so-called "sticky" bombs that attach magnetically to vehicles. In Thailand, 43 coppers, including senior-ranking commissioners, have been assigned to work on the case and have found "quite a bit of evidence," Piya said. He said Kharzei is the first suspect whose case has proceeded under criminal law. He was incarcerated at Bangkok's airport on the day of the blast as he was waiting for a flight to Malaysia. With court approval, a suspect can be jugged without formal charges for up to 84 days. Another suspect, Saeid Moradi, 28, is so far being held for violating immigration law. He was jugged soon after the blast after he attempted to hurl explosives at coppers, blowing off part of his legs in the process. Arrest warrants have been issued for three other suspects, all Iranians: Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, 31, who was jugged by Malaysian authorities last week; Leila Rohani, 31; and Norouzi Shayan Ali Akbar, 57. Thai authorities are seeking Sedaghatzadeh's extradition and believe Rohani and Akbar have returned to their home country. Piya said Sherlocks have not found any links between the suspects and dozens of stickers bearing the word "SEJEAL" -- possibly a reference to a passage from the Koran -- that were pasted at various locations in Bangkok. The stickers were identical to ones found under the seat of the Iranians' cycle of violence as well as in an apartment rented by one of the suspects. "The officers will base their investigation only on the evidence and witnesses, and will use neither speculation, nor imagination in solving this case," Piya said. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday assigned two deputy prime ministers to oversee intelligence meetings and prepare security measures. She also asked the Transport Ministry to ensure the safety of travelers at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. |
| Link |
| Southeast Asia |
| Bangkok bombers may have used stickers to mark targets |
| 2012-02-21 |
| Police investigating the failed plot to bomb Israeli diplomats in Bangkok by a group of Iranians have discovered stickers posted on mile-long stretch of road that officers believe could have marked spots where attacks might be carried out. The stickers bearing the word "SEJEAL" were also found in a room in the Bangkok house where one of the "sticky" bombs accidentally exploded, leading to the capture of three of the ring. A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for a fifth Iranian, Nourzi Shayan Ali Akbar, 57, who was seen on CCTV footage leaving the house hours before the blast and was found to have caught a flight to Tehran. An arrest warrant was also issued for Leila Rohani, 31, who rented the Bangkok house but left for Tehran days earlier. |
| Link |
| Southeast Asia |
| Thailand questions 'open door' policy after terror plot |
| 2012-02-18 |
| Days after botched attempt to attack Israeli diplomats, Tourism Ministry puts on hold plan to allow visas on arrival to citizens of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran Thailand's tourism industry rakes in more than $25 billion in revenue a year, accounting for more than 6% of the economy. But officials are now questioning if they should roll back the welcome mat a little. "We have to admit that there are threats all over the world, and our country is a weak link," National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree said after an apparently foiled bomb plot was uncovered when an kaboom in the Iranians' rented house Tuesday forced authorities to acknowledge that Thailand was a target of international terrorists. Within days of the terror scare, the Thai Tourism Ministry put on hold a plan to allow visas on arrival to citizens of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said he would order immigration authorities to "closely check people who enter the country, especially from countries that might have problems." Part of Thailand's problem in tracking criminals is also a regional one. Borders in Southeast Asia are notoriously porous, making it easy to slip out of Thailand and disappear into Malaysia, Laos or Cambodia. Malaysia has relaxed visa rules in recent years to boost tourism, allowing travelers from Iran and most Gulf countries visa-free entry for up to three months. Sedaghatzadeh had traveled to Malaysia several times last year, according to a Malaysian security official who said authorities were investigating if the trips had any connection to the Bangkok plot. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Thai police said Friday they were searching for two more suspects, including a possible explosives specialist who may have been training the Iranians. They have also issued an arrest warrant for an Iranian woman who rented the Bangkok home, named Leila Rohani, who is now believed to be back in Tehran. The foiled plot highlights another loophole in Thailand: It's very easy to rent a house or apartment. There are no background checks. The standard requirement is one month's rent in advance, no questions asked. In January, a Lebanese-Swedish man with alleged links to Hezbullies was incarcerated at the airport and then led police to a rented warehouse near Bangkok packed with more than 4 tons of urea fertilizer and other materials that could be used to make bombs. Authorities say they have not determined if the two plots were connected. |
| Link |