US Consulate in Thai North under extra protection

BANGKOK, February 14 (TNA) - More police have been deployed and two layers of checkpoints have been set up to provide extra protection to the US Consulate General in Thailand's northern resort Chiang Mai province, following intelligence reports that the premise is a terror target and three more terrorists have already arrived in the province from neighbouring Myanmar. The additional security officers, patrolmen and explosive disposal officers from border patrol police units have been stationed in front of the US Consulate General to look for suspicious objects, but the US Consulate has remained open to offer services to people and international tourists as usual. The concerned authorities have maximized security measures to prevent untoward incidents and rapid movement units have increased their patrols in the vicinity of the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai, with vehicles and suspects passing by the building having been searched thoroughly at the layers of checkpoints. Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant General Suthep Detraksa, Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, urged people and international tourists not to panic, assuring them of the effectiveness of the ongoing security measures provided by the concerned units. (TNA)