Security tightened after blasts in Chiang Mai and Phayao

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

CHIANG MAI: -- Pre-dawn explosions hit a Phayao shopping centre and a Chiang Mai hospital yesterday, but no injuries were reported.

Responding to a report at 2am, police found two cars damaged by shrapnel in Chiang Mai Memorial Hospital's parking lot and surrounding area. Police spent more than two hours collecting evidence. The blast created a hole 8-centimetres deep and 30cm wide.

Lt-Colonel Sawat Lahkas, superintendent of Chiang Mai police station, said the attack was unlikely related to the political turmoil, because it was a private hospital and an employee had been fired a few days ago on suspicion of corruption. But police could not rule out a political motive at this stage, he said.

As more bombings were expected, Provincial Police Region 5 chief Lt-General Somkid Boonthanom ordered security to be beefed up. Additional checkpoints were set up around the city and police patrols were increased at key offices.

Atsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket, director of the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal, said people's safety was a concern, especially during the Songkran festival when 20,000 travellers are expected per day.

The terminal has joined forces with the municipality to check on risky areas and install more security cameras. Passengers will be urged to alert officials if they spot anything looking like a bomb.

Police and soldiers have been asked to protect the station around the clock.

In Phayao's Muang district, police were alerted at 3.58am by security guards at the Tesco Lotus centre that some unknown persons had fired two grenades from an M79 launcher at the facility, causing damage to the MK Suki restaurant's front window.

Police were reviewing security footage and were confident of making an arrest soon, Phayao police chief Maj-General Jarin Insuwanno said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-04

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After every blast security is tightened so who is kidding who?