Security forces on alert

KUALA LUMPUR: As reports came out of Bangkok that Thailand may have been infiltrated by Islamic State (IS) militants intent on attacking Russians there, Malaysian security forces are on the alert for any possible movement of terrorists into the country.

Although there has been no intelligence that IS militants have slipped into Malaysia, enforcement agencies are wary.Sources said enforcement agencies, particularly those at entry points and along Malaysia’s borders, were working closely to ensure the safety of the country.

“Although we have not received any information, it does not mean that there is no threat. Some might have slipped into the country, but we have no intel on this, so security agencies remain vigilant in making sure nothing happens,” said a source.

The source said it was not impossible for IS members to slip into other countries to launch attacks as they had in Paris last month.
“In tracking down IS members, we should not concentrate solely on Syrians as those who joined the group in Syria and Iraq are made up of more than 100 nationalities.
“They could be anyone — Moroccans, Indonesians, even Malaysians — anything can happen.”
Asked if Malaysia’s enforcement agencies had received any information following Moscow’s warning to Thai police that 10 Syrians linked to IS had entered Thailand in October to target Russians, the source said “no”.

“In the context of combating terrorism, our enforcement agencies are working closely with their counterparts in other countries in sharing information.” The source said sharing intelligence was important, especially now that IS had started launching attacks in other countries, just like what happened in France.

A Russian embassy spokesman said Moscow had not issued any warning of a possible attack on Russian citizens in Malaysia.AFP reported yesterday that Moscow’s top intelligence agency had warned that 10 Syrians linked to IS had entered Thailand to target Russians.

A leaked letter, marked “top secret” and “urgent”, and signed by the deputy head of Thailand’s Special Branch, was circulated in local media late on Thursday.It said Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) had told Thai police that the group of Syrians entered the country between Oct 15 and 31 to target Russian interests.
“They (the Syrians) travelled separately. Four went to Pattaya, two to Phuket, two to Bangkok and the other two to (an) unknown location,” the letter said, citing information from FSB.
“Their purpose is to create bad incidents to affect Russians and Russia’s alliance with Thailand,” the letter said, without naming the suspects.
Thailand is in its peak holiday season, during which international arrivals surge. More than 1.6 million Russian tourists visited Thailand last year. Arrivals from Russia spike during the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons.
Songpol Wattanachai, a deputy spokesman for the Thai police, said “the letter is real”, but added “we have no proof if they are here or not”.
A second spokesman, Krissana Phattanacharoen, said “the content of (the) letter is genuine”, but played down a specific threat to the country.

“Yes, it’s a threat, not only to my country, but also to other countries,” he said, referring to the potential danger posed by IS.
Confirmation that IS militants had entered the country would likely send jitters through the tourism industry, especially in resort areas, such as Phuket and Pattaya, both popular with Russians.
Pattaya police urged tourists not to be alarmed by the reports, although they said security would be beefed up.

Russia launched airstrikes against IS targets in Syria in September. A month later, a Russian passenger plane was downed by a bomb over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing 224 people, mainly Russian holidaymakers.
IS claimed responsibility for the bombing as well as the Nov 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. The brazen attacks have raised global alarm over the possibility of assaults by IS gunmen and bombers.

Thailand was hit by a bomb blast in August that left 20 people dead at a shrine here. Mystery still shrouds the motive of the unclaimed attack, whose aftermath saw Thai police release contradictory and confusing information.Thailand has not fallen victim to a mass casualty attack by Islamic extremists in recent years, although many of its Southeast Asian neighbours have.

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