The recent terror threat in Thailand has prompted the nation’s largest airport operator to bolster security levels at two of the country’s international gateways.
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has announced that security levels at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Chiang Mai International Airport have been raised from level two to level three as a direct result of the heightened state of alert.
- The security levels at Chiang Mai Airport (pictured) and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport have been raised.
The increased security measures comes as a terror plot was revealed when the United States issued a travel warning to its citizens advising of a likely attack in the Thai capital of Bangkok.
One suspect, with alleged ties with militant Islamic group Hezbollah, has been taken into custody and charged with possessing excessive amounts of chemical fertiliser, which is also commonly used in homemade explosive devices.
Another suspect is believed to have recently fled the country through the south, while authorities say that the terror plot has been called off.
- A Boeing 747 takes off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
President of the AoT, Aniruth Thanomkulbutr, said that extra security personal would deployed around the airport, while more extensive screenings of luggage and passengers will take place.
He added that the boost in security measures is standard given the current situation.
The AoT has also asked airline operators to set up their own security committee whose main role was to provide effective communication channels among airlines in the event of a terrorist incident.
Travellers should arrive earlier than usual to account for any possible delays due to the increased levels of security.
