Suspect Allegedly Planned Attacks at APEC Summit
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that a terrorist suspect arrested last month had confessed he was planning to blow up embassies in the Thai capital during October’s APEC summit meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders.
Thai police had already revealed this week that a Singaporean man arrested last month and three Thai Muslims arrested Tuesday were suspected of planning to bomb embassies in Bangkok and tourist spots frequented by Westerners.
They said the men were members of Jemaah Islamiah, the terrorist group believed to have carried out last year’s nightclub bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Thaksin’s comments, made in his weekly radio address to the nation, were the first to tie the alleged plan to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which President Bush is scheduled to attend along with other world leaders.
Thai police said Friday they believe a fourth Thai suspect has fled to neighboring Malaysia.
Police are now cooperating with Malaysian officials in tracking down the fugitive, Samarn Waekaji, said Col. Kamronwit Tupkrachang, a police spokesman in southern Thailand.
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