Col Arun told The Phuket News this afternoon, “I am aware of this news. In fact I have just come out of a meeting chaired by the Governor [Maitree Intusut] about the bomb at the OrBorJor offices [on Thursday, August 1] and we have asked all media to be careful about how they cover this news. We have had a good response from them.
“There is no need to be worried about terrorists in Phuket. The US warning covered only the Middle East and North Africa, not Phuket.
“In any case some 300 to 400 US sailors and Marines will be arriving at the Phuket Deep Sea Port soon,” he said, referring to the imminent arrival of a US Navy warship.
Yesterday the US ordered 19 embassies in the Middle East and North Africa to close temporarily because of intelligence indicating that the Al Qaeda network in Saudi Arabia and Yemen is about to attempt a major strike in the region, possibly to coincide with Eid al Fitr, when Muslims celebrate the end of the Ramadhan fast. This year that falls on Thursday this week (August 8).
Other countries such as Britain and Germany followed the US lead and also closed their embassies.
AFP reported that the State Department late last week issued a worldwide travel alert to US citizens, warning of the “potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure”.