September 28
Thai authority step up security measures by keeping Bangkok under surveillance by preparing CCTV cameras around the capital, an official said on Tuesday.
The government has prepared 8,846 CCTV cameras, including those of private sectors, around Bangkok in a hope to prevent bombing and grenade attacks, said Acting Government Spokesman Panitarn Wattanayakorn after cabinet regular meeting.
Bangkok has seen at least five attacks in the past month which caused property damages and some injuries despite the state of emergency still in place.
The acting spokesman said since the anti-government red-shirt protesters started its demonstration in March, there were 125 attacks, 108 of which happened in Bangkok. There were 36 attacks happened after the demonstration ended in May.
“The cabinet was briefed by police this morning that it is believable the series of attacks may be done by the same group,” said Panitan.
Moreover, the acting spokesman said the places prone to attack are classified into three levels. The first level is on full-scale alert including royal palaces, key residential areas, and transport terminals. The second level is on high alert consisting of government offices and places that have political symbolic meaning. The third level is on frequent security checks, which consists of department stores, banks and crowded areas.
The state of emergency, giving authority to the government to prohibits assembly of more than five people and shut down media, has been enacted in Bangkok and some other provinces since the chronic protest of the red-shirt protesters. Although the protest, causing 91 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries, has ended for almost 4 months, the government has not yet lift the state of emergency in Bangkok, citing possible bombing attacks at various areas in the capital.