BANGKOK, Dec 17 — Thai National Police Chief Pol Gen Priewpan Dhamapong on Saturday inspected security measures at CentralWorld which would be a major venue for Bangkok’s countdown event on Dec 31 and expressed confidence that the celebration would run smoothly without untoward incidents.
“Bangkok Countdown Smile Up 2012” would be held at CentralWorld and some 200,000 revellers were expected to join the festivities.
Gen Priewpan said CentralWorld executives have coordinated with the Metropolitan Police Bureau for traffic management in front of the shopping center while bomb scanning machines would be installed and 60 CCTV would also be installed to monitor all areas of the event.
Evacuation plans in case of emergency has been drafted as a precaution, he said.
The national police chief also inspected the roof deck of Gaysorn Plaza, directly opposite of CentralWorld, which was an important strategic point for security measures.
He also checked the CCTV control room at nearby Amarin Plaza.
Gen Priewpan has given assurance to the public that no untoward incidents would happen during the new year celebration.
As for the six bombs found at three locations on Friday, he said police were investigating and gathering clues to arrest two more people who may have been involved in the planned attacks after one suspect was arrested.
Police believed they are the same group who place a bomb at the traffic island in front of the Government Lottery Office on Dec 6.
In a related development, a bomb-like item was found at Bang Khen train station and the bomb squad determined that it was only a hoax.
After inspecting the item, police said it was 40×12 cm PVC pipe spray painted black and wrapped with electrical wire without explosives or fuse.
There were no witnesses who could identify the person who placed the bomb-like object.
Police believed the bomb was aimed at causing a disturbance amongst the public.
