Singapore warned Thailand to watch out for three Turkish nationals suspected of plotting an attack against Chinese interests on Thai soil.
Of the three names handed over by Singapore, only one, identified as Ali Yalcin, 36, was found to have entered and left the kingdom in March. Further checks have found he had travelled with another Turkish national, Arif Yilmaz, 35, who was not on Singapore’s watch list. Both Mr Yalcin and Mr Yilmaz hold Turkish passports.
Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, chief of the bureau, said immigration authorities have placed both men on their watch list and are awaiting more details from Singapore.
The pair have no criminal record in the country and no warrants for their arrest have been issued by Interpol, he said.
According to the immigration database, Mr Yalcin arrived at Don Mueang airport on March 18 from Singapore on an AirAsia flight and left for Cambodia on March 22.
He re-entered the country on March 24 and left for Malaysia via Phuket International Airport on March 28. There was no record of a third entry.
Lt Gen Nathathorn said immigration authorities have run checks and found that Mr Yalcin was travelling with Mr Yilmaz as their seats were next to each other.
The commissioner said security authorities have been keeping a close watch on Turkish nationals and Mr Yalcin was picked out at random for questioning when he arrived on March 18. At that time immigration had no information about him.
He said police have been sent to gather more information in the Sukhumvit 16 area and Phuket where the two men were seen during their stay in the country.
He also rejected any links between the three Turkish nationals and an earlier report about two Uighurs entering the country to commit terrorist attacks here.
Based on a media report earlier this month which was denied by police, two Uighur individuals were said to have arrived in Phuket and authorities were told to be cautious as the individuals “could be targeting Chinese tourists or Chinese interests” in Thailand.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said the police force has been keeping a close watch on foreign nationals and following up on every security warning.
“Sometimes the warnings came after they had left, so it’s hard to trace them. I am confident everyone is being careful about attacks,” he said.
Gen Thawip Netniyom, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said the Singapore warning asked Thailand to be cautious about three Turkish nationals without discussing any details of possible attacks.
He said he was informed of the security warning from Singapore on Tuesday (Apr 19) and discussed it with immigration authorities who insisted none of the men are currently in the country.
Col Pirawat Saengthong, spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said yesterday intelligence authorities have assessed the situation and concluded the security risk is low.
He said army commander Teerachai Nakwanich, who serves as Isoc deputy chief, has told intelligence officials to keep working diligently and called on the public to keep an eye out on behalf of the authorities.
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