No Info Linking M'sian Daesh Militant's Death In Syria To Bombings In Southern Thailand - Thai Police

By MOHD HAIKAL MOHD ISA BANGKOK, May 26 (Bernama) -- Thai authorities do not have any intelligence information indicating that recent bombing incidents in southern Thailand are related to the killing of a top Malaysian Daesh militant, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi in Syria. Nevertheless, National Police Chief Gen Chaktip Chaijinda has instructed the Special Branch to look into the link between the death of the wanted militant and the bombings in southern provinces. "We don't have intelligence information (on the link)," he told the media after chairing a meeting at the Royal Thai Police headquarters Thursday. He said Thailand and Malaysia's Special Branch departments always kept in touch with one another, adding that the Thai authorities were equipped with "measures" to deal with any threat posed to the country. Chaktip was responding to a statement by Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier Thursday, that recent incidents in southern Thailand, Jakarta (indonesia) and Mindanao (the Philippines) were related to Muhammad Wanndy’s death. Muhammad Wanndy, who was originally from Durian Tunggal in Malaysia's Melaka state was killed in a drone strike on April 29. Malaysian Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has confirmed his death. On whether the Daesh terrorist group was behind the bombing on the Pramongkutklao Hospital three days ago, Chaktip said there was no such indication. “If Daesh was responsible for the attack at the military-run hospital, the terrorist group would have openly taken credit like in previous terrorist attacks in other countries before this,” he said. The blast at the hospital which was caused by a pipe bomb left 21 people injured. He said the police had questioned 61 people and would question another 10 to 20 more people to gather more information on the hospital incident. “The authorities believe more than one perpetrator was involved in the blast...the police are meanwhile, investigating three letters which warned of an imminent attack on three other hospitals, located near the Pramongkutklao Hospital. -- BERNAMA