Thai PM: No link between Wanndy's death and south Thailand bombing

BANGKOK: Thai authorities have not found any evidence linking the recent bombing in southern Thailand to the death of Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, a top Malaysian member in the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, in Syria recently.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha nevertheless ordered Thai security agencies to continue investigating the alleged link.

"Thailand has not found any intelligence information indicating that the bombing in southern Thailand was related to the recent terror attacks in Jakarta and Mindanao," he said in a statement issued after the weekly cabinet meeting, here, Tuesday.

Prayut said the government would inform the public if it had sufficient evidence to link the blast in Pattani recently with other terror attacks in the region.

A popular supermarket in the volatile province was struck by a powerful bomb on May 9 when it was packed with shoppers, injuring 69 people including several children.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a statement recently said the bombing in southern Thailand and terrorist attacks in Jakarta and Marawi in Mindanao were linked to the death of Muhammad Wanndy.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the death of the Malacca-born terrorist in an attack in Raqqa, Syria on April 29.

Prayut also urged all sides in Thailand to end their conflict and not allow extremist forces from outside the country to meddle in its internal affairs.

On the progress of "Safety Zones" in southern Thailand, the prime minister said both sides were still talking on the details of the matter.

The Thai government has been in peace talks with Mara Patani, an umbrella group representing several militant groups in southern Thailand, with the facilitation of Malaysia. – Bernama