Security measures at airports, bus stations tightened

[gregor200]

BANGKOK: -- Security measures at airports and inter-provincial bus stations nationwide will be upgraded following bomb attacks here on Sunday, senior officials said on Friday.

Assistant army chief Gen. Saprang Kalayanamitra, in his capacity as board chairman of Airports of Thailand (AOT) Public Co., Ltd., said he ordered every airport to boost security measures to the same level of airports in Europe and the United States.

He also ordered Loxley Pcl, provider of security at Suvarnabhumi airport, to improve security systems there or have its concession terminated.

Initially, army and police personnel will be assigned to Suvarnabhumi airport to assist in providing security and if the company fails to upgrade security performance, then the concession would be revoked, Gen. Saprang said.

Meanwhile, Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, permanent secretary for Transport, said security systems at every inter-provincial bus station would be upgraded to the maximum following bomb threats at bus stations.

Security at bus stations is now on the same par with national security and passengers may feel inconvenienced because of thorough searches by security personnel there, Mr. Chaisawat said.

--TNA 2007-01-05