- Title: Thai police warn of Bangkok bomb plot, step up security
- Date: 11th October 2016
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (OCTOBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AT ERAWAN SHRINE, THE SITE OF THE 2015 BANGKOK BOMBINGS BRAHMA (PHRA PHROM) STATUE WOMAN PRAYING WITH INCENSE PEOPLE PRAYING PEOPLE WALKING NEAR ERAWAN SHRINE POLICE OFFICERS WALKING NEAR ERAWAN SHRINE POLICE OFFICERS TALKING TO LOCAL VENDORS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) LOCAL GARLAND VENDOR, PINKAEW PIPATTADA, SAYING: "I'm very concerned about the situation as so many things are happening in Thailand. So that's why I'm so worried about everything." POLICE OFFICERS PATROLLING FOREIGN TOURISTS STANDING IN ERAWAN SHRINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM UNITED STATES, NEW JERSEY, CHRISTOPHER PEER, SAYING: "As of now, you know, any major metropolitan area in the world is, obviously you know, a little bit dangerous. It's a target for people that want to commit terrorist attacks. But, you know, so far, I feel pretty safe." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM CHINA, CHENGDU, OLIVIA WANG, SAYING: "Yeah, there have been a little bit worry about that and my family members told me that you gonna be careful when you come to Bangkok. Yes, I definitely, I paid a little bit attention to that, but so far so good." PEOPLE WALKING INTO ERAWAN SHRINE TOURIST TAKING PICTURES IN FRONT OF ERAWAN SHRINE CARS DRIVING DOWN ROAD
- Embargoed: 26th October 2016 09:40
- Keywords: Thaland Bangkok bomb bomb security bomb plot Bangkok attack
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVA00153K8951
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Police in Thailand on Tuesday (October 11) said they have increased security at major landmarks in the capital Bangkok, at airports and in surrounding provinces following reports of bomb plots just weeks after deadly attacks rocked the country's south.
An armed group was plotting car bomb attacks in a province near Bangkok, the chief of Thailand's National Security Council, Thawip Netniyom, said.
At Bangkok's Erawan Shrine, the site of a deadly blast last year, local vendors expressed concern about the security situation across the country.
"So many things are happening," said one flower vendor, Pinkaew Pipattada.
In August 2015, a bomb ripped through the shrine killing 20 people, most of them tourists. But the attack failed to dent tourist arrivals to any discernable degree, and tourists on Tuesday said they were not too worried about current threats.
"As of now, you know, any major metropolitan area in the world is, obviously you know, a little bit dangerous. It's a target for people that want to commit terrorist attacks. But, you know, so far, I feel pretty safe," said Christopher Peer, 22, from the U.S..
Another tourist from China, Olivia Wang, 28, said her family had told her to be careful, but she had found that the situation was "so far so good".
Popular tourist destination Thailand has seen a series of bomb attacks in the country's south over the past few weeks, including a wave of bombs in tourist towns between August 11-12 that killed four Thai people and injured dozens, including foreigners.
Police have linked the attacks to Muslim separatists operating in Thailand's far south.
Thailand's tourism industry, which accounts for 10 percent of gross domestic product, has weathered more than a decade of unrest including two military coups and the recent bombings.
Security chief Thawip said on Tuesday he was not sure whether the planned car bombs and the August attacks were related, but had issued the warnings as a preventative measure.
Bangkok is currently playing host to a regional meeting attended by some world and business leaders. Police said they were on high alert. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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