Security boost after Thai attacks
2010-09-04 08:00
Bangkok - Thai authorities announced on Friday that they are boosting security in the country's capital after a series of grenade attacks possibly linked to recent political unrest.
Metropolitan Police spokesperson Piya Uthayo said police would work with the army and city officials to provide security and surveillance at more than 400 high-risk spots following "several incidents that have threatened public safety".
The attacks occurred even though Bangkok remains under a state of emergency invoked during large-scale anti-government protests in the capital from March to May.
About 90 people were killed and more than 1 400 wounded in protest-related violence, including more than 20 grenade explosions.
No one claimed responsibility for those attacks, which the government blamed on persons linked to the Red Shirt protesters, who were demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva call early elections.
Grenade attacks
The three grenade attacks that have occurred in the last month have targeted Bangkok locations associated with the government.
On Tuesday, a grenade exploded in the compound of state-run TV broadcaster NBT, damaging several vehicles but causing no injuries.
Last Friday, another exploded outside a shopping mall and hotel, the second time in the same location in less than a month, wounding a security guard.
The mall's owner is close to a major pro-government politician.
Abhisit said security officials believe the NBT explosion bore the hallmarks of similar attacks during the protests earlier this year, but cautioned that the investigation was not yet conclusive.
Teams of soldiers, police officers and other law enforcement workers will patrol around the clock in a 400m radius of 130 "extremely high-risk" locations, such as the royal family's compounds, homes of key figures and locations that have seen frequent attacks, police said.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints will be set up near around 200 "high-risk" locations, including government offices, symbolic locations or other places where attacks have taken place.
Security will also be tightened at more than 100 major public places such as shopping malls and banks.
The city government will also check nearly 3 000 closed-circuit cameras to make sure they are functioning.
In some recent cases, the authorities found that security cameras were out of order and failed to capture footage of suspects.
- AP