Thai PM Denies Terrorism Link to Hotel Deaths, FBI Sends Team

[webfact]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today addressed the deaths of six Vietnamese-Americans found at a prominent hotel in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district, asserting that initial findings suggest it is an internal matter, not related to terrorism. 

 

In his statement from the Parliament building, Srettha emphasised the need to await forensic results from the Police Forensic Science Office and Chulalongkorn Hospital. He said, "From the initial assumption, it is an internal matter, not related to robbery or our internal security."

 

Speculation about the incident's impact on tourism was dismissed by the Prime Minister. When asked, Srettha firmly said, "It would not be related."

 

The Prime Minister also revealed he had spoken with the Vietnamese Ambassador, emphasising that Thailand would handle the matter fairly. "This was the main reason he went there," Srettha said. "He assured us that we would be fair in everything."

 

Regarding whether the deceased were regular visitors to Thailand or first-timers, Srettha declined to speculate, instead deferring to the police investigation. "Let the police give a general statement," he urged. 

 

The FBI’s involvement, which has sparked some concern, was described as "normal" given that two of the deceased were American citizens. "It is routine because there were two Americans and one Vietnamese," Srettha explained. 

 

Lastly, when asked if the upcoming meeting of Russian energy ministers at the same hotel would be affected, Srettha dismissed any need for changes. "It was not related to terrorism or lax security measures, and I think everything is proceeding normally," he said. 

 

As the investigation continues, all eyes will be on the forensic results to provide clarity on this perplexing case. The international community, particularly the United States and Vietnam, will undoubtedly be observing closely as Thailand navigates this sensitive situation.

 

Picture courtesy: Khaosod

 

-- 2024-07-17

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[petermik]

Smoke and mirrors will come into play methinks.........

[hotchilli]

6 people dead in a room who were packed and waiting to go to the airport to fly out?

Very strange.

[AAArdvark]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

given that two of the deceased were American citizens. "It is routine because there were two Americans and one Vietnamese,

2 Vietnamese and 1 American, I thought there were 6 dead?

[LudwigK]

...and FBI travels to TH for fun 😄😄😀😁😁😁😁😁

[0ffshore360]

17 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

2 Vietnamese and 1 American, I thought there were 6 dead?

Not that either sorry.

[Tropicalevo]

3 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

2 hours ago, webfact said:

given that two of the deceased were American citizens. "It is routine because there were two Americans and one Vietnamese,

2 Vietnamese and 1 American, I thought there were 6 dead?

That is about as accurate as he gets in his 'statements'.

[PomPolo]

2 hours ago, petermik said:

Smoke and mirrors will come into play methinks.........

Smoke and mirrors is the perfect quote, why would the FBI be sent on the death of two Americans, Brits and Americans die all the time here and they don't send the FBI or MI5 for that!  Something much more at play here for someone to want 6 seemingly innocent people dead using a very hard to come by poison.  Reminds me of the Novichok killings in the UK a few years ago that has been proven to be KGB operatives.
The transparent investigation into this is something that seems to be promised but I suspect will not happen based on the reasons behind these killings, either that or it will be put down to a cult suicide!

[AhFarangJa]

Nothing to see here, move along please................as with most news stories here this will fade into the background very quick, and we will likely hear nothing more of it.

[Presto]

25 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

2 Vietnamese and 1 American, I thought there were 6 dead?

If you're waiting for decent reporting from ASEAN now, I suggest looking for another, more enjoyable pastime. 😉

[DPKANKAN]

BBC news just confirmed that arsenic was found in the drinking cups and one of the deceased owed 100's of 1000's to part of the group!!!!

[RJRS1301]

2 hours ago, petermik said:

Smoke and mirrors will come into play methinks.........

Were any of them linked politically to current Viet government??

 

[spidermike007]

I will be very curious to see what the police forensics reveal, and how they might spin the story. This is probably about the most frank and honest thing that Srettha has ever said in public, since he was appointed as PM. 

 

I just read that this appears to be a poisoning by one of the members of the group, due to massive debt. Does this make sense? Why take others with you for the ride? That seems exceptionally cruel. 

[AnotherOneHere]

"Thai PM Denies Terrorism Link "

 

In that case it is definitely a terrorism related! I would look if it is linked to that death of Iranian in Pattaya. That looks terorrism related too.

[PomPolo]

3 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

BBC news just confirmed that arsenic was found in the drinking cups and one of the deceased owed 100's of 1000's to part of the group!!!!

Pure speculation, killing 5 other people and yourself because you owe a few baht to someone, I can't see that personally, it is a pre-emptive news report initiated by police suspicion on unfounded third hand comments no doubt, I have had loans before but I don't want to shoot up a bank!

[DPKANKAN]

1 minute ago, PomPolo said:

Pure speculation, killing 5 other people and yourself because you owe a few baht to someone, I can't see that personally, it is a pre-emptive news report initiated by police suspicion on unfounded third hand comments no doubt, I have had loans before but I don't want to shoot up a bank!

It is also just confirmed on Asean Now. Next story!!!

[PomPolo]

6 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

It is also just confirmed on Asean Now. Next story!!!

Ah the Oracle source of truth must be correct then 🙂

[PomPolo]

8 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

It is also just confirmed on Asean Now. Next story!!!

One day into the investigation and it's all solved, must be because the FBI arrived in 2 hours or were they already here?
There also seems to be some confusion around Arsenic and Cyanide, for the purpose of education this is ChatGPT's opinion, bearing in mind that ChatGPT is not a Thai detective although might not be a bad idea!

CHATGPT

Arsenic and cyanide are both highly toxic substances, but they differ in their chemical properties, sources, and mechanisms of toxicity. Here are the key differences:

Chemical Properties

• Arsenic

  • Type: Metalloid
  • Chemical Symbol: As
  • Common Forms: Arsenic can be found in both organic and inorganic forms, with inorganic arsenic (e.g., arsenic trioxide, arsenate, arsenite) being more toxic.
  • Appearance: Arsenic compounds are typically colorless and tasteless, making them hard to detect in food and water.

• Cyanide

  • Type: Chemical compound
  • Chemical Formula: CN^− (cyanide ion)
  • Common Forms: Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), potassium cyanide (KCN), and sodium cyanide (NaCN) are the most common forms.
  • Appearance: Cyanide salts are typically white powders, and hydrogen cyanide is a colorless gas with a faint, bitter almond smell (though not everyone can detect this odor due to a genetic trait).

Sources

• Arsenic

  • Natural Sources: Arsenic is found naturally in the Earth's crust and can contaminate groundwater and soil through natural processes.
  • Industrial Sources: Used in pesticides, herbicides, wood preservatives, and semiconductors. It can also be released from mining and smelting activities.

• Cyanide

  • Natural Sources: Found in certain plants (e.g., cassava, bitter almonds, pits of fruits like cherries and apricots) as cyanogenic glycosides.
  • Industrial Sources: Used in mining (gold extraction), electroplating, synthetic fibers, and plastics manufacturing. It can also be a byproduct of combustion.

Mechanisms of Toxicity

• Arsenic

  • Cellular Effect: Interferes with cellular respiration by inhibiting various enzymes, particularly those involved in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is crucial for energy transfer in cells.
  • Health Effects: Chronic exposure can lead to skin lesions, cancer (skin, lung, bladder), cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Acute exposure can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and death in severe cases.

• Cyanide

  • Cellular Effect: Binds to cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, inhibiting cellular respiration by preventing cells from using oxygen to produce ATP.
  • Health Effects: Rapid onset of symptoms including headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and seizures. High doses can cause respiratory failure and death within minutes.

Treatment

• Arsenic

  • Immediate Care: Removal from the source of exposure and supportive care.
  • Chelation Therapy: Medications like dimercaprol and succimer can bind to arsenic and help remove it from the body.

• Cyanide

  • Immediate Care: Removal from the source of exposure and administration of 100% oxygen.
  • Antidotes: Hydroxocobalamin (a form of vitamin B12) binds cyanide to form cyanocobalamin, which is excreted in urine. Sodium thiosulfate can also be used to convert cyanide to thiocyanate, which is less toxic and excreted in urine.

Summary

• Arsenic: A metalloid found in various inorganic and organic forms, primarily affecting long-term health and causing chronic issues such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Toxicity mechanism involves interference with ATP production.

• Cyanide: A chemical compound found in certain plants and used in various industries, causing rapid onset of symptoms and potentially fatal outcomes by inhibiting cellular respiration through cytochrome c oxidase binding.

[wealthychef]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The FBI’s involvement, which has sparked some concern, was described as "normal" given that two of the deceased were American citizens. "It is routine because there were two Americans and one Vietnamese," Srettha explained. 

 

So if a Russian were killed would the KGB show up to "help?"  Given the FBI's involvement in US scandals and corruption and assassinations themselves, I would hesitate to bring them in for help.  It won't be long before they'll be setting up bombs themselves.  https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-fbi-is-known-for-entrappin-Qtk1rYcQRlavzYRyTcqbJw 

[MalcolmB]

Is Cyanide Anne out on bail?

[PomPolo]

ChatGPT also getting its info from a competitor site Thaiger, however stuff is adding up other than the reason behind it, I would have paid his debt to keep the other 5 people alive if that is the reason behind it what a complete kn0b a$$hole w4nker and burn in hell!

ChatGPT is using the words like allegedly unlike most of the current news reports it is case closed!

CHATGPT

In the recent case in Thailand where six people were found dead in a hotel room, initial reports suggest the possibility of cyanide poisoning. Cyanide is a highly lethal poison capable of causing rapid death by inhibiting cellular respiration, leading to asphyxiation at the cellular level. Given its potency, cyanide could indeed kill multiple individuals quickly, potentially before they had the chance to call for help (Thaiger) (Thaiger).

The deaths of the six Vietnamese nationals were reported after they allegedly consumed tea and coffee mixed with poison. Cyanide is particularly effective in such scenarios because it can cause symptoms like dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness within minutes, progressing swiftly to cardiac arrest and death (Thaiger).

Considering the speed and efficiency of cyanide, it is plausible that it could result in multiple fatalities in a confined space without immediate alarm from the victims, especially if they consumed the poison simultaneously and were incapacitated rapidly (Thaiger) (Thaiger).

[Cracker2000]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

6 people dead in a room who were packed and waiting to go to the airport to fly out?

Very strange.

 

Depends which report you read, sounds more like they died their first night there, before they unpacked and bodies not descoverd for 48hrs.

[Gandtee]

Cyanide? I thought that cyanide poisoning was excruciatingly painful and death was almost immediate. How come all the cups were empty? Did they perform a toast and so drank together at the same time?

[PeachCH]

Comments should be not allowed on this matter! 

[new2here]

1 hour ago, LudwigK said:

...and FBI travels to TH for fun 😄😄😀😁😁😁😁😁

There is already a sworn FBI employee assigned to and physically present in Bangkok. they can of course bring in others from other regional offices who may have larger staff or specialists. 

[Greenhill]

1 hour ago, DPKANKAN said:

BBC news just confirmed that arsenic was found in the drinking cups and one of the deceased owed 100's of 1000's to part of the group!!!!

Ah Well, if the wonderfully unbiased BBC said it was poisoning, then that's it then!!!    Case closed!!!!

[Photoguy21]

Do we know if anything was taken from the victims? A long time ago there was a guy who was responsible for similar events. He was in jail in Thailand and India which was the last I heard. He did however always get out of jail by bribing guards, at least that was what was reported at the time. Could this be the same guy?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, LudwigK said:

...and FBI travels to TH for fun 😄😄😀😁😁😁😁😁

They're always here.

[Dexxter]

17 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Do we know if anything was taken from the victims? A long time ago there was a guy who was responsible for similar events. He was in jail in Thailand and India which was the last I heard. He did however always get out of jail by bribing guards, at least that was what was reported at the time. Could this be the same guy?

I very much doubt that this is guy that you are thinking of, however, since everyone is using ChatGPT here I may as well do the same....

 

The man you're most likely thinking of is  **Charles Sobhraj**.  He was a French-Vietnamese serial killer, thief, and conman who preyed on Western tourists traveling on the "hippie trail" of Southeast Asia during the 1970s.  He was known by several nicknames, including:

* **The Bikini Killer:** Due to the attire of some of his victims.
* **The Serpent:**  For his ability to evade authorities and change his identity.
* **The Splitting Killer:**  A reference to his partnership with a woman named Marie-Andrée Leclerc.  

Sobhraj and Leclerc would befriend young tourists, drug them, rob them, and sometimes kill them.  Estimates suggest he may have murdered up to 20 people, though the exact number remains unknown.  His crimes were centered around Thailand, but he also operated in other parts of Southeast Asia.

**The TV Series:**   

The television series you might be remembering is  **"The Serpent"**, a British drama miniseries released on Netflix in 2021.  It tells the story of Sobhraj's crimes and the pursuit of justice by Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg.

 

[0ffshore360]

2 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

Not that either sorry.

Why the confusion? There were (reportedly) 2 American and 4 Vietnamese.

No 1 of one and 2 of another either way !