A potential terrorist plot was foiled in Thailand.
January 16, 2012- A Lebanese man is suspected of organizing an attack in the Thai city of Bangkok. Police in Bangkok arrested the man after raiding a property Monday and discovering chemicals related to bomb making.
The arrest follows warnings from the U.S. about the possibility of a terrorist attack on areas popular with tourists in Bangkok. Police are searching for another suspect who they believe may be hiding in the capital city.
The police announced that the man was arrested for breaking laws that control weapons. Authorities found large amounts of ammonium nitrate and fertilizer at a property rented by the Lebanese man.
Ammonium nitrate normally has an agricultural use but when mixed with certain substances it can make a bomb. In Thailand, anyone possessing the chemical must have a permit.
Authorities in Thailand believe the man has links to Hezbollah, a Syrian and Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim group. The group has been listed by Washington as a terrorist group.
Israel provided intelligence that helped to detain the suspect according to Thai police. Police said the suspect admitted during his interrogation that an attack was being planned in Thailand, but had been cancelled.
A much larger security presence could be seen around heavily visited tourist areas as well as the Israeli embassy.
The U.S. said last week that there was a credible and serious risk of an attack by terrorists in Thailand.
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