Diplomats get police brief on terror threat
Lumpini police yesterday gave a security briefing to diplomats from 38 missions located in their jurisdiction. The talk was part of a security plan to guard against terror attacks.
Station chief Pol Colonel Phongsiam Meekhanthong said the briefing was precautionary and not prompted by any alert. However, First Army Area commander Lt-General Prayuth Jan-ocha said later that he received a direct order to heighten military security over the coming Makha Bucha Day on March 6 and the Songkran festival, from April 13-15. The direct order came from Army commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin in the wake of scaled-up attacks by militants in the Muslim South on Sunday and Monday. Asked to comment on possible terrorist attacks by insurgents in Bangkok, Prayuth said it was possible. Asked if those behind the nine bombs set off on New Year's Eve would do it again, he said: "We are concerned about it." Diplomats met at the official invitation of acting national police chief Seripisut Temiyavej at a hotel for lunch with station officers. Phongsiam said he provided details on heightened security measures including more checkpoints and an increase in active intelligence. A total of 7,500 trash bins in Bangkok are being replaced with see-through plastic ones by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), including bins at 2,500 bus stops that will be replaced by March 15. The BMA is also working on a programme to mobilise civil defence volunteers and members of community patrols to provide extra security in their areas to watch out for possible acts of terror and crime.
|
