Nation-Apr 18
Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan on Wednesday admitted there was a possibility of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) making attempts to set up a branch in Thailand.
“There could be an attempt to come to Thailand but we are ready to defend ourselves,” Prawit said. “Like in other countries, they might try to set up a branch in Thailand but we can prevent that.”
His reaction followed a Malaysian report that four ISIS members, suspected of planning attacks on non-Muslim places of worship, had fled to the deep South.
Three of them are Malaysians and one is a Thai, Prawit said. Two have already been caught but the other two are on the run.
Thai authorities are investigating whether they have any links to ISIS, he said.
