BANGKOK, July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Thailand on Wednesday warned its citizens against non-essential travel to France, after its diplomats suffered a number of violent robberies around Paris.
“The ministry has received reports of four robberies in the last month. In the most recent incident, a Thai commercial officer attached to the embassy was attacked while travelling in an embassy car,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The ministry urges all Thais, both those who reside in Paris and those who want to travel to France, to exercise increased vigilance over their property. Any unnecessary travel should be postponed or cancelled this summer,” it said.
Ministry spokesman Songphol Sunkchan said the robberies had all been smash-and-grabs, in which thieves break through car windows to steal passengers’ belongings.
“Thieves appear to be targeting Asians for robbery,” Songphol told AFP.
The ministry also issued guidelines for Thais who need to travel to France, advising them to keep their personal possessions with them at all times, to avoid wearing expensive-looking clothing or jewelry, and not to travel alone.
Copyright AFP
Subject: French News