Syrians linked to ISIS are in Thailand to attack Russian interests: Leaked document

TenSyrians"relatedto"theIslamicStateinIraqandSyria(ISIS)enteredThailandinOctobertoattackRussianinterests,ThaipolicesaidinaleakeddocumentcitinginformationfromtheRussianFederalSecurityService.Police officers securing the entrance of the US embassy in Bangkok on Nov 27.PHOTO: AFP

Inthedocument,SpecialBranchpoliceurgedanintensificationofsecurityaround"targetareasthatRussianauthoritiesareconcernedabout",includingvenuesassociatedwithalliesthathavetakenpartinattacksonISIS.

Marked"Urgent"anddatedNov27,theSpecialBranchpolicesaidintelligencefromRussiawarnedthatthe10SyriansenteredThailandbetweenOct15andOct31.

TheSpecialBranch,whichsentthedocumenttoinvestigativedivisionswithinthenationalpolice,saidfourofthesuspectstravelledtotheseasidecityofPattaya,twotothetouristislandofPhuket,twotoBangkokandtwotoanunknowndestination.

TheSyriansuspectswerenotidentified.

RussiabeganairstrikesinSyriaonSept30andhassteppedupattacksinrecentweeks.AnISISaffiliateclaimedresponsibilityfordowningaRussianairlineroverEgyptinOctober,killingall224peopleonboard.

Thailand'sSpecialBranch,whichdealswithnationalsecurityissues,circulatedthedocumenttootherpoliceunaits,twoseniorpoliceofficerstoldReuters.

ThedocumentwascirculatingonsocialmediaonThursday.

"Thedocumentisreal.WereceiveditfromSpecialBranch,"saidoneofthepoliceofficers,whohandlesinternationalcrimematters.Hedeclinedtobeidentifiedbecauseofthesensitivityofthematter.

"Ihavetodealwiththisissuenow,"hesaid."TheoriginalcommunicationwasbywordofmouthbetweenRussianandThaipolice.Idon'tknowhowthedocumentleaked."

TheThaigovernmentandpolicehavepreviouslysaidthatnoThaiMuslimshavejoinedISIS.

Thailand'sthreesouthernmostprovincesborderingMalaysiaarehometoalargeMuslimcommunity,elementsofwhichhavewagedaninsurgencyagainsttheBuddhist-dominatedThaistateforoveradecade.