Dancing at Chabad in Thailand
Dancing at Chabad in ThailandIsrael news photo: Courtesy of Chabad Thailand

Rabbi Nehemiah Wilhelm of Chabad-Lubavitch of Bangkok spoke to Arutz Sheva in the wake of the recent security tensions in Thailand.

Last Friday, authorities in Thailand detained a Lebanese man with suspected links to the Hizbullah terror group. A second suspect fled the country. The Counter-Terrorism Bureau subsequently issued a travel warning to Thailand, saying there is a possibility of an attack against Israeli tourists in Bangkok.

The arrest of the suspected terrorist later led to the discovery of 400 boxes of bomb-making material.

“About ten days ago, we received warnings from the Israeli authorities and the Thai authorities on the presence of a terror group here in Bangkok,” Rabbi Wilhelm said. “We, of course, strengthened security in and around Chabad House. We have security 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but since we received this warning we strengthened the security even more.”

He added that ever since the warning was issued, Chabad House in Bangkok has seen more Israeli travelers who have come by, not just to find out what is happening, but also because they feel more secure at Chabad House.

Rabbi Wilhelm noted that the increased security has been ongoing since the 2008 terror attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai, India. Today, he said, an Israeli security guard is stationed at the building daily, and the Thai authorities also have a heavy presence.

“We all hope that after they were able to catch one member of the terror group – and they’re assuming that the other guy has already left the country – that this is behind us,” he said.