Subway Reinforces Security Measures With Canine Bomb Expert Squad

[george]

Subway reinforces security measures with canine bomb expert squad

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's underground train service is reinforcing its security measures at all stations and even inside its coaches, thanks to a newly-established canine bomb expert squad.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which oversees the Bangkok's subway service, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Army, has set up the new canine bomb expert unit to boost and ensure the safety of subway passengers, according to MRTA's Deputy Governor Ronnachit Yaemsa-ard.

The 12-member squad of well-trained dogs will begin their operations in Febuary.

They would be divided into four groups each day to separately inspect suspicious objects and detect any bomb at all subway stations and inside the underground train, Mr. Ronnachit told journalists here on Monday.

The canine bomb expert squad would be on service everyday from 06:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., the daily service hours of the underground train, he said.

Assistant Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jariya Tabthong presided over a ceremony here Monday morning to hand over the 12 canine bomb experts to MRTA.

Mr. Ronnachit said, however, that there had been no bomb threats against the subway service so far although subway security officers used to discover unattended briefcases which later turned to be forgetfully left by some passengers.

--TNA 2006-01-30

[greenwanderer108]

hope these dogs aren't trained to sniff out herbal subliments...the supply line is dry enough as it is