Sunglasses-wearing American detained over alleged spying in Thailand
A sunglasses-wearing American has been detained in Thailand after authorities accused him of spying on a military facility in a border province on heightened alert amid tensions with Cambodia.
Police said the 46-year-old man was detained on Tuesday in Surin, a north-eastern province that hosts key military installations and lies close to the Thai-Cambodian frontier.
He was identified as Joshua Bryan, a US citizen, after hours of questioning by police, immigration and military intelligence officers.
According to security officials, Bryan was seen taking photographs near a military airport used as an operational base. Witnesses reported that he lingered along the perimeter, repeatedly using his mobile phone and focusing on sensitive areas of the facility.
When officers approached, police said the man attempted to evade them by fleeing into a nearby public park and hiding inside a public toilet. He was surrounded and later escorted to Surin City Police Station for questioning.
Investigators said Bryan refused to allow officers to examine his mobile phone, despite repeated requests. Police said he deflected questions and physically prevented access to the device, complicating efforts to establish what images or data had been recorded.
Senior officers, including the provincial police commander, led a multi-agency interrogation that stretched for several hours on Tuesday evening. Immigration officials and military intelligence officers were also present, reflecting the sensitivity of the case.
Authorities confirmed that Bryan had checked into a hotel in Surin one day earlier, though details of his travel route, length of stay and movements in Thailand were not disclosed. Police said they were not convinced by his initial claim that he was travelling alone.
The detention comes amid tightened security nationwide after Thai authorities warned of potential threats involving foreign nationals during the current border standoff with Cambodia. Police have increased surveillance around military sites and urged the public to report suspicious behaviour.
Immigration checks have also been stepped up at airports and land crossings, with closer coordination between police, the military and border agencies. Officials say the measures are intended to prevent espionage and other security-related offences.
By early evening, police said Bryan remained in custody as questioning continued. Authorities have not announced any formal charges, but indicated the investigation would hinge on determining his activities near the military airport and the contents of his phone.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
