Police raids in Min Buri

POLICE carried out precautionary searches yesterday in Bangkok’s Min Buri district, which has a large Muslim population, after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for Thursday’s terrorist attacks in Jakarta.

Apartments and communities within the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Police Area 3 were checked as part of beefed up security measures. One of the suspects allegedly involved in the Erawan Shrine bombing was arrested from an apartment in Min Buri about four months ago. 

Area chief Pol Maj-General Chaiyaporn Panich-attra led the 30-strong police-Army team, plus some canines, to search an unnamed apartment in Soi Rat Uthit 44/2 in Min Buri. The search did not yield anything illegal but police requested registration details for many young people from the deep South found in the area. 

Chaiyaporn said the search was carried out as a precautionary move at all precincts under Metropolitan Police Area 3. 

He urged the community residents to look out for any suspicious thing or person to ensure public safety and prevent any future problems. 

 

Suppression of terror attacks 

Meanwhile, deputy police chief Pol Lt-General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul has issued an urgent letter instructing all units of the Royal Thai Police to beef up security and be ready to prevent any attack – after recent attacks in Paris, Istanbul and Jakarta. 

The measures included formulation of strategies for prevention and suppression of terrorist attacks; risk assessment of key places and persons under their jurisdictions; and conducting drills to protect key places in case of an attack. 

Police will seek cooperation from state offices, consulates, schools, transport hubs, key business establishments and attractions frequented by foreigners as part of its preventive measures. 

VIPs in Thailand, local and foreigners, would be provided with security. Police in plain clothes would be dispatched to gather intelligence about suspicious people and groups who are a threat to national security, while more checkpoints would be set up to search for weapons. Patrol officers would check key places including malls, entertainment venues, hotels and guesthouses. 

Immigration Police have been instructed to be stricter on people arriving in Thailand via border checkpoints and airports, notably those on the Interpol blacklist. In an emergency, the supervisor responsible for an area could lead combat efforts with fully armed officers. 

In Sa Kaew province, officials at the Aranyaprathet Border Checkpoint and para-military rangers launched an inspection of the Rong Klua Border Market and border area to boost tourists’ confidence. Plain-clothed officers were dispatched to gather intelligence on suspicious people. Officials also checked the area’s guesthouses, rented rooms and resorts and told venue owners to report information about foreign guests to the authorities as required by the current regulation. 

In Nong Khai province, officials at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Border Checkpoint yesterday joined with police, army and related officials to ensure stricter screening of people passing into Thailand.