BANGKOK, April 18 (UPI) -- Two members of Hezbollah, arrested in Thailand several days ago, admitted they planned to attack Israeli tourists in Bangkok.
Police suspect they intended to attack Israeli travelers during Passover. The two men -- French citizen Daoud Farhat, and Youssef Ayad, a Philippine citizen -- were both born in Lebanon, their passports said. According to their passports, Farhat was on his first visit to Thailand, but Ayad had visited 17 times in the past.
Thai police said they made the arrests, in two separate locations, after receiving information from Israeli intelligence. The two are suspected of belonging to a Hezbollah terror cell.
Ayad admitted plotting attacks against Israeli tourists, and bomb-making material was found in his Bangkok residence, a senior police official said.
Police added Ayad and Farhat will be expelled from Thailand when the investigation concludes. It is unclear if they will be charged with any crimes.
A third suspect, Bilal Bhasoun, is still being sought in Thailand.
[Haaretz]
