Goverment travel warning issued for BKK.Thailand.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- The government urged Australians traveling to Thailand Wednesday to exercise extreme caution, saying deadly attacks by Muslim extremists in the south could spread to the capital Bangkok.
Australians should avoid nonessential travel to the provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla, including overland travel to and from the Malaysian border through these provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a travel advisory issued Wednesday.
"There have been numerous security incidents in these provinces since early 2004, including bombings of public areas and facilities," the advisory, posted on the department's Web site, said.
"Further incidents are possible at any time. While so far this violence has been limited to Southern Thailand, the escalation of violence in the South may result in attacks elsewhere in Thailand including Bangkok and other tourist areas," it added.
The department said it continued to receive reports that terrorist elements in Southeast Asia were planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
"Australians in Thailand are advised to exercise extreme caution," it said.
The government did not detail any intelligence it had received to prompt the new warning.