Three Syrians in Thailand Cleared of ISIS Links
Three of the 10 Syrians who arrived in Thailand in October with the alleged intent of staging attacks on Russians have been cleared of any possible links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria ISIS, English-language Thai newspaper the Nation reports. An urgent Thai police document leaked earlier this month called for tighter security in "target areas that Russian authorities are concerned about," following reports from Russia that 10 Syrians connected to ISIS were stationed in areas popular with Russian tourists, such as Pattaya and Phuket. The extremist group has targeted Russians in response to Moscow's recent air strikes in Syria, claiming responsibility for the bombing of a Russian commercial jet over Egypt in late October. Authorities in Thailand and Russia's ambassador to the country questioned three of the individuals on Sunday and concluded that they were not linked to ISIS, the Nation said.