South terror warning denied

South terror warning denied

The government yesterday dismissed a rumour that the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) had warned certain southern provinces over possible terror attacks in tourist districts.

Asked whether the security warning reported by the media over the weekend was a reason for security being tightened in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon relayed the question to Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, who was standing nearby.

Gen Anupong said the department, which is under his ministry, had never issued such a warning, adding sufficient security measures are already being maintained across the country.

But Pol Col Kritsana Phatthanacharoen, a deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said DPA-issued security warnings in the southern provinces popular with tourists are par for the course.

No significant police intelligence has emerged that might have led to a major security warning being issued in these southern provinces, said Pol Col Kritsana.

He also denied the DPA had requested extra police forces be deployed in these areas over the past weekend.

On Saturday, Phuket governor Noraphat Plotthong said the importance of stepping up security patrols in public places had been stressed in every district of the province.

The move followed what the provincial governor had described as unrest in several areas, which prompted state agencies to heighten security measures.

Manit Phianthong, an assistant to the Phangna governor, who now serves as acting governor, also said on Saturday the province had ordered all of its districts to step up security patrols after media reports about possible bombings and other types of terror attacks targeting Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi.

Gen Prawit also dismissed rumours the motive behind the May 22 bombing at the army-run Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok that injured 25 people had resulted from an "internal conflict".

He said several suspects had been detained and questioned and he is confident the culprits will be brought to justice.

A source said the military is now playing an active role in investigating the bombing, having so far detained two so-called hard-core groups comprising six to seven members for questioning. Their inquiries are ongoing.

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