Chiang Mai Attack Most Violent So Far

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Chiang Mai attack most violent so far

By The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- The M79 grenade attack on an official residence in Chiang Mai's Muang district late on Wednesday night had been carried out by "people in uniform", the provincial police chief said yesterday.

Pol MajGeneral Sommai Kongwisaisuk described the Chiang Mai attack as the most violent since the redshirt demonstrators began protesting on March 12, saying that earlier attacks were merely aimed to demoralise people.

"The attackers were either trained on using the M79 launcher or they used to serve in the police or military. They may be operating as a team, with one person working as a lookout.

They probably arrived at the site in a vehicle, fired the grenade and fled," he said.

Parts of the grenade with serial numbers were found at the site, where officials working with the provincial transport office in Tambon Mae Hia live.

The lone grenade landed in front of the residence, damaging three cars and a phone booth, though nobody was injured.

Provincial governor Amornphan Nimanant said security had been heightened in the wake of intelligence reports saying that the level of violence would increase the longer the protests continue.

Meanwhile, police were monitoring a report that a group of men had rented a room in a condominium building in Soi Sukhumvit 33 overlooking the home of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Pol MajGeneral Anuchai Lekbamrung said police and military officers were also manning all tall buildings near Abhisit's home.

Acting police chief Pol General Patheep Tanprasert admitted that the police force was finding it difficult to provide sufficient security in Bangkok, especially on Saturday when the redshirted protesters are planning to stage largescale rallies throughout Bangkok.

He said police personnel had been mobilised from the provinces to help, but the number was still insufficient.

Patheep said police officers probing bomb attacks would not be punished for failing or making little progress in solving the cases because the situation was intense and the number of attacks large.

-- The Nation 2010-04-02

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