Security measures in good place for New Year celebrations in Thailand

BANGKOK, December 8 (TNA) - Thai police have stepped up security measures, covering strictly inspections at checkpoints set up throughout the country, to prevent and to flatten any untoward incident during the upcoming New Year celebrations. Thailand's National Police Chief Police General Priewpan Damapong said Thursday that he has instructed police in all areas across the country to mobilize their forces for the intensified security measures, which include thorough check-ups of possible explosives, war weapons and illegal substances or materials at checkpoints, starting from December 15 until the end of the New Year festivity in early 2012, to ensure safety of local and foreign travellers. Police General Priewpan acknowledged, meanwhile, that police investigators are gathering evidence, including images recorded by closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), to track down, expected within the next couple of days, suspects involving in planting an unexploded bomb near the Government Lottery Office in Bangkok on December 6. The national police chief said those behind the bomb scare were initially believed to have intended to only create turbulence, rather than violence, during the annual New Year celebrations, as the bomb circuit was not connected. (TNA)