EOD officers scoured the two bomb sites – at Loma Park and near the Bangla Rd Police Box – with detectors and sealed off sensitive areas for safety, while scores of tourists enjoyed the internationally-renowned beach seemingly oblivious to today’s events. (See earlier report here.)
Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada this morning called an emergency meeting of all mayors and local administration heads to order them to boost security measures and to ensure CCTV cameras in their areas are operational.
“I urge all local executive officers to ensure CCTV cameras and lighting in public areas are fully functional, and to co-ordinate with other agencies to boost security with checkpoints and patrols,” he said.
Gov Chamroen ordered officials to pay particular attention to tourism-attraction areas as well as shopping malls, transportation hubs and public markets. Security at all provincial government offices has been bolstered and patrolled 24 hours, he added.
Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen, Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, added, “If you find any suspicious items, inform the local police directly. Let’s work on this together.”
Neither Gov Chamroen or Gen Teerapol linked today’s bombings in Phuket to a bomb scare in Patong on Wednesday, when two devices were found but later claimed to be not explosives. (See story here.)
Police have yet to confirm whether CCTV images of two people named as “suspects” in Patong in posts shared on a public social media group called “Phuket Webboard” are wanted in connection with today’s bombings or the devices found on Wednesday.