No sign of IS in Thailand

CHONBURI, Dec 6 (TNA) -- More than 100 combined government forces patrolled along streets in Pattaya resort town on Saturday night in an attempt to provide safety and boost confidence among foreign tourists following reports that members of Islamic State (IS) militant group have sneaked into the kingdom to possibly create violence to certain Western-run property and people. Led by Tourist Police Division commander Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan, more than 100 tourist police and marine police, army personnel and defence volunteers patrolled along the Walking Street in South Pattaya area to boost security among the tourists. No untoward incidents took place and the resort town was still packed with foreign tourists. Pol Maj Gen Surachet told journalists that crimes occurred in several forms to date while some of them were connected with transnational crime. He said there were recent reports saying that about 10 IS members entered Thailand. According to the reports, some of them are hiding in Pattaya and in the southern resort of Phuket but so far no IS members were found, therefore, people should not too panic because concerned officials are monitoring the situation closely, he added. (TNA)