Abu Zainab Denies Thailand Arrested Hizbullah Operative
Thai authorities said Friday they had detained a Lebanese man with suspected links to Hizbullah, after the United States warned of a terrorist threat against tourists in the kingdom.
Hizbullah politburo member Ghaleb Abu Zainab denied the arrest.
"Foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future," the U.S. embassy in Bangkok said in an emergency message posted on its website.
"U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok."
A Thai senior intelligence officer said that the kingdom had been informed before the New Year by Israel of a possible threat.
The suspect was detained Thursday while another man had already fled the country, he said.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung told Agence France Presse by telephone that the detained suspect was being questioned by the Thai authorities.
"We already have one suspect in custody for interrogation at a government building in Bangkok. He is a Hizbullah from Lebanon," he said.
"I want to assure people that there is nothing to worry about. The police will take care of the situation and everything will be under control."
"Israel was suspicious that these two men might be terrorists, so they gave information, including their names, to our police before the New Year," the senior intelligence officer said.
The suspect has denied involvement in any terrorist activities, he added.
"These two men entered Thailand a while ago but did not conduct any terrorist activity. I wonder why Israel was suspicious about them."
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also told reporters that authorities in the kingdom had the current situation under control.
"I would like to tell our people and tourists that there is nothing to worry about," she said.
"These two men entered Thailand a while ago but did not conduct any terrorist activity. I wonder why Israel was suspicious about them."
Israel would not confirm or deny a role in the arrest.
"Israel does not comment on security issues," foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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