'Ambassador not at questioning'
RUSSIA AMBASSADOR to Thailand Kirill Barsky was not present when Thai police questioned three Syrians on whether they had links to Islamic State.
His press attache, Olga Zhilina said in a letter that the ambassador was neither at Lumpini police station, where the questioning took place on Monday, nor talked to reporters afterwards. Instead, an officer from the embassy’s consular section did attend the questioning, Zhilina said.
In a story on A2 of the December 7 edition under title; “Syrian trio not linked to Islamic State, say police”, acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Sanit Mahatavorn was quoted as saying that the questioning was done in the presence of Barsky. Sanit also said in a press briefing after the questioning that the ambassador said the three Syrians had no involvement with IS.
There are fears that Syrians with a link to IS jihadists may have entered Thailand in October with a plan to attack Russians or Russian interests. A warning from a Russian security agency said 10 Syrians reportedly travelled to provinces such as Phuket and Pattaya.
Zhilina also denied a news report that Russia’s Foreign Ministry discouraged Russian tourists from visiting Thailand.
Meanwhile, deputy police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Piyapan Pingmueng said that police have intensified patrols and screening in many provinces including those where the suspected Syrians reportedly travelled to.
