Youssef Ayad
Youssef AyadStop910

Two suspects, thought to be linked to the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, were arrested in Thailand last week. In investigation one of them has admitted a planned bombing attack on Israelis during Passover.

The two suspects, French-Lebanese Daoud Farhat and Lebanese-Filipino national Youssef Ayad, were exposed by a counter-terror website "Stop910" as being part of a Hezbollah cell in Thailand.

The two held French and Philippines passports respectively, reports the Bangkok Post. Both were born in Lebanon according to their passports, although the documents have not yet been confirmed as genuine. A third member of the cell, Bilal Bahsoun, may not have entered Thailand according to authorities.

Thai police arrested the two on suspected links to Hezbollah at the beginning of Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, which was held April 13 to 15.

While under investigation, Ayad admitted to plans of bombing Israeli tourists on Khao San Road, a popular tourist spot for Israelis, during the Songkran festival that overlapped with Passover.

"If we had been unable to arrest the men during Songkran, a bomb attack would certainly have taken place somewhere on Khao San Road," a Thai security source acknowledged.

Assistant Thai national police chief Winai Thongsong said the men were arrested separately in Bangkok following intelligence from Israel about a planned attack on Israeli tourists during Passover.

The security source said investigators believe at least nine Hezbollah-linked foreign terrorists are currently in Thailand, and that authorities are searching for them.

As for the fate of the two captured suspects, police Lieutenant Gen Winai said they will be deported back to the countries they entered Thailand from after Thai police finish questioning them. Winai did not name the countries of origin.

Youssef Ayad
Youssef AyadStop910
Daoud Farhat
Daoud FarhatStop910