FCDO warns of Thailand terrorism risk
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for parts of southern Thailand
The UK government department now advises that travellers avoid “all but essential travel to parts of the south, near the Thailand–Malaysia border”, due to a risk of terrorist attacks.
This advice covers all of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat Provinces. It also includes the southern part of Songkhla Province “beyond the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakon, as well as south of the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Padang Besar”.
Travellers should also specifically avoid travel on the aforementioned Hat Yai–Padang Besar train line for the same reason.
“There are regular terrorist attacks in the four provinces in the southern tip of Thailand by the border with Malaysia,” the FCDO stated. “Martial law is in place in most areas in these provinces, which means security forces have greater security enforcement and investigative powers.”
However, it noted that while the threat was most prominent in those areas, similar attacks “could take place anywhere in Thailand [and] could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals”. The agency advised keeping up to date with local news reports and following the advice of local authorities when travelling to the country.
The FCDO also updated its travel advice for Turkey after a spate of sexual assaults on British nationals earlier this year.