The U.S. is willing to join Vietnam in the investigation of the fatal terrorist raids that occurred in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak last month so as to clarify who were behind the deadly incidents, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper has said.

The ambassador was speaking to the press in Hanoi on Monday when asked by reporters for his comments on the two armed terrorist attacks on two local administration offices in the province on June 11, leaving nine deaths and injuring three others.

Knapper stressed that the U.S. objects to the use of force in any form and absolutely does not tolerate the deadly incidents that happened in Dak Lak, since which local police have arrested 96 suspects, including six on the special wanted list.

During the attacks on the headquarters of the People’s Committees of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes in Cu Kuin District that day, the terrorists also took three residents hostage and destroyed many facilities at the two offices.

Knapper also affirmed that the U.S. is willing to coordinate with Vietnam in the investigation of these armed attacks in any necessary ways to bring to light anyone behind them.

The ambassador said this is a clear message of the U.S., especially when there has been news that an organization based in the U.S. was behind the fatal incidents. 

He also advocated reliable and active cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. in the field of security, referring to the close coordination between Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

At a meeting with General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, in Hanoi on June 30, Knapper told his host that the U.S. government would not tolerate the involvement of any U.S.-based organizations or individuals in the deadly attacks against the people’s government in Dak Lak. 

He requested relevant information from Vietnam and pledged cooperation with and support for Vietnam in clarifying the issue and preventing similar incidents that may affect the relationship between the two countries.

Earlier when attending an anti-terrorism conference held by the United Nations on June 22-23, Major General Pham Ngoc Viet, director of the Department of Homeland Security under the public security ministry, said that the lethal attacks in Dak Lak were an organized terrorist activity aimed at state entities, officials, and civilians. 

He also noted that one of the arrested attackers is a member of a U.S.-based organization who had received instructions to infiltrate Vietnam and perform the attacks.

Viet emphasized that any organizations or individuals involved in or behind these attacks would be dealt with in a manner corresponding to the level of their violation.

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