http://www.theage.com.au/world/islamic- ... lfg4f.html
Bangkok: Islamic State is believed to have deployed 10 terrorists plotting attacks across Thailand, including at two tourist centres popular with Australians, according to Thai media citing a leaked police memo.
Issued "urgent" and "secret" the memo urges Thai authorities to increase security around venues associated with allies that have joined attacks on IS in Syria, including Australia, the United States, France, Germany and Belgium.
The memo cites intelligence information from Russia that between October 15 and October 31 four Syrian terrorists travelled to the tourist city of Pattaya, two arrived in Phuket тАУ where 20,000 Australians holiday each month тАУ two went to Bangkok and another two went to an unknown destination.
The information was sent by the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, to Thailand's National Security Council.
The memo dated November 27 leaked to Thai media outlets warns that the alleged terrorists are "likely" to attack Russian interests in Thailand, presumably in revenge for Russia stepping up air strikes against IS in Syria.
Thailand is popular with Russian tourists and Russians have established communities in Phuket and Pattaya.
Thai media reported on Thursday they have been unable to confirm the details contained in the memo with Russian authorities, but they reported the memo was issued by the intelligence arm of the Thai national police known as the Special Branch and was sent to all of its investigative branches.
The memo did not detail the terrorists' exact whereabouts or their names.
The warnings come three months after August 17 bombings in Bangkok that killed 20 people and injured 130 others. They are likely to damage Thailand's tourist industry, which accounts for 10 per cent of its economy, as it enters the peak tourist season.
Australia's smartraveller.gov.au warns Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand due to the possibility of civil unrest and the threat of terrorist attack.
But the advisory does not specially mention Russian intelligence.
In September a leaked Malaysian police report warned that 10 suicide bombers linked to IS and the southern Philippine terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, had been deployed across Malaysia.
Malaysia's police chief, Khalid Abu Bakar, said at the time the memo was authentic but warned the information was not verified.
"There have been reports of imminent threats in Malaysia," he said.
Malaysia's government pushed through new national security laws on Thursday that give sweeping powers to a council headed by Prime Minister Najib Razak to declare a security area to protect "any interest in Malaysia".
Once a declaration is made the country's security forces are permitted to limit freedom of movement, conduct any searches and to arrest anyone on suspicion of committing "any offence under any written law".
But Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said the laws create a risk of abuse in the hands of Mr Najib, who is under fire over allegations of corruption, money politics and economic mismanagement.
Scores of government critics have been arrested or charged in recent months.
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