DATE=6/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234646
TITLE=THAILAND-TERRORISTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THAI POLICE WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH U-S FEDERAL
AGENTS HAVE ARRESTED FOUR YOUNG PAKISTANIS IN BANGKOK, ON
SUSPICION OF BEING PART OF THE TERRORIST GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE 1993 BOMBING OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDING IN NEW YORK.
DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM THE THAI CAPITAL.
TEXT: THAI SOURCES QUOTED IN A REPORT IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE
NEWSPAPER "THE NATION" SATURDAY SAID THE FOUR WERE SUSPECTED OF
PLANNING TO ASSASSINATE U-S AMBASSADOR WILLIAM ITOH AND LAUNCH A
TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE U-S EMBASSY HERE.
THE SOURCES -- WHO REQUESTED ANONYMITY -- ALLEGE THE FOUR WERE
WORKING ON A 27-THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTRACT FROM AN IRANIAN
TERRORIST GROUP.
HOWEVER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AMERICAN MISSION IN BANGKOK SAYS
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A THREAT TO AMERICAN INTERESTS IN
THAILAND. THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAYS THERE IS NO FIRM EVIDENCE
LINKING THE FOUR TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING, WHICH KILLED
SIX PEOPLE AND INJURED MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND.
THE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED U-S OFFICIALS WERE JOINING THAI
AUTHORITIES IN QUESTIONING THE FOUR MEN (MOHAMAD RAHIM, HADJA
PAHU SASA, HARA HAJ HUSEM, AND HAREEF HUSEN) -- ALL AGED BETWEEN
25 TO 30.
THE NATION REPORT SAID AMBASSADOR ITOH HIMSELF WAS AMONG A GROUP
OF AMERICAN OFFICIALS WHO QUESTIONED THE FOUR SUSPECTS AT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S IMMIGRATION JAIL IN BANGKOK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION POLICE INVESTIGATION UNIT TOLD
REPORTERS THE FOUR WILL BE CHARGED WITH OVERSTAYING THEIR VISAS
AND SENT HOME UNLESS THE UNITED STATES REQUESTS THEIR
EXTRADITION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/CB/MMK
27-Jun-98 8:08 AM EDT (1208 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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