17 hours ago
Thailand orders heightened vigilance after bomb scare in the south
Police found an improvised time bomb in a car being driven from Songkhla to Phuket earlier this week. (Phuket information centre pic)
BANGKOK : All Thai government agencies have been placed on high alert and urged to heighten vigilance following recent bomb threats in the southern tourist provinces of Phuket and Phang Nga.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said reports from relevant agencies suggested that the incidents were attempts to create unrest in the region.
The prime minister convened a meeting with the national police chief, the commander of the tourist police, and the permanent secretary of the tourism and sports ministry to assess the situation.
'Every precautionary measure has been implemented to ensure public safety and prevent harm. However, the government remains vigilant. The National Security Council will continue to oversee and intensify operations,' she said on social media.
Earlier this week, Thai media reported that a car travelling from Songkhla to Phuket was stopped in Phang Nga, where police found a homemade time bomb and arrested two suspects.
Suspicious devices were later found in Phuket and Krabi, including near the airport.
Though the devices caused no injuries and lacked destructive capabilities, they raised security concerns in the region.
Police bomb squads confirmed that the objects were designed to resemble explosive devices, likely intended to instil fear and disrupt normal activities.
