Security at all public transport locations in the capital -- from bus stops and stations, the railways, the metro and Skytrain, to Suvarnabhumi airport -- has been tightened in Thailand's capital Bangkok following the coordinated explosions in the city on New Year's Eve.

 

The Transport Ministry has introduced a "Call Center" hotline for reporting any act of violence which would endanger the public.

 

The security enforcement is in response to the nine coordinated explosions that made Bangkok's New Year's Eve a night to remember, which killed three and injured some 40 persons, including nine foreigners.

 

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that he had ordered all airport, railway station, bus station, metro, skytrain and port to reinforce their security to the service-using public as travelers are returning to their homes after celebrating the New Year holidays.

 

Unusual packages or suspect activities should also be reported to the Ministry's Call Center 1356, said Thira.

 

Meanwhile, Airports of Thailand president Chotisak Asapaviriya said security at Savarnabhumi airport had been reinforced. More police, tourist police and sniffer dogs trained for recognizing explosives have been posted on every floor of the airport.

 

Chotisak said he hoped the presence of reinforcements would give more confidence to airline passengers.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2007)