Their Majesties send a letter of condolences

“The Queen and I are deeply distressed by reports of the truck attack in Nice, which caused the tragic loss of so many innocent lives and untold injuries.

“We wish to extend our sincerest sympathy and condolences to Your Excellency and to all those who have been inflicted with bereavement from this horrific incident,” the letter read.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued a statement addressed to his French counterpart, Manuel Valls, expressing his deep condolences to victims and their relatives. 

The statement said that Thailand joins the international community in “strongly condemning the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks perpetrated, resulting in the unacceptable loss of innocent lives and countless injuries”. No Thai national is among the casualties from the terror attack in France, according to latest reports on the situation. 

There were 11,165 Thais in France at the time of the attack, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. According to the ministry, the Thai Embassy in Paris contacted a committee of Thai women in Nice to determine if any Thais were affected by the incident.

The ministry warned Thai citizens – those in France and those scheduled to travel there – to be cautious using public transport in the country, to avoid mass crowds and to closely follow updates from French officials.

Any person who needs to contact the Thai Embassy in France about the recent attack can do so via (+33) 1 56 26 50 50 during office hours and by contacting the hotlines (+33) 6 03 59 97 05 and (+33) 6 46 71 96 94 every day. 

The French Embassy in Bangkok, meanwhile, has prepared a book for people to express their condolences and write messages of moral support for the people of France. It hosted a vigil at the Alliance Francaise in Bangkok in memory of the victims . 

French Ambassador to Thailand Gilles Garachon issued a statement affirming French unity. “France is determined to remain united in our values and not relinquish anything to terrorism,” Garachon said, describing Bastille Day as “a symbol of freedom”. “With unity in our values, we will be stronger,” the ambassador added. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

Panitan Wattanayagorn, security adviser to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, said a terrorist attack was unlikely to occur in Thailand. 

The government was still planning to keep a closer watch on the French Embassy and French business areas in the capital. Police deputy spokesman Maj-General Songpol Wattanachai said, “The Immigration Police Bureau has also been instructed to get stricter with screening foreigners coming in and out [of the country],” he said.