Investigators in Thailand have arrested a terror suspect from Lebanon who tried to attack spots in Bangkok that are popular with Western tourists, the Thai government stated Friday. The suspect is believed to belong to Hezbollah.Meanwhile, the United States warned its citizens in Thailand of the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks in busy tourist areas of Bangkok. The U.S. has passed information to Thai authorities that put the Thai government on high alert. Neighboring countries received similar information.
A statement on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok mentioned "foreign terrorists" who may be planning attacks "in the near future", and said, "U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok."
The embassy said U.S. citizens should "maintain a heightened awareness when out in public," and advised them to be on the lookout for unattended packages and bags in public places and other crowded areas. It also suggested that they "keep a low profile in public areas, particularly areas frequented by foreign tourists."