Suthep confirms possible assassination attempt rumor

The National News Bureau of Thailand this afternoon reports that Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban admits there are reports of possible assassination attempts on important figures, but no reports of such attempts to occur during the upcoming red-shirt rallies on 19 September.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep said he has instructed the police to tighten security, although there has been no concrete information from intelligence agencies on violence during the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship’s (UDD) demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the authorities have already assigned officers to guard the public figures who have reportedly been targeted for assassination.

The UDD has announced that they will stage their rallies in Bangkok and Chiangmai on 19 September to mark the 4th anniversary of the 2006 military coup.

The killing attempt rumor was earlier unveiled by Special Security Police Commander Major General Treetot Ronnaritthichai.

The Deputy Prime Minister voiced a concern about the Police Major General’s press release of sensitive information as this could cause panic to the public, but admitted that he had received such report as well.

— Thailand National News Bureau