Security measures beefed up at Bangkok's subway system

BANGKOK, April 5 (TNA) - Security measures have been intensified at Bangkok's underground train system, covering inside all carriages, stations and even its control and maintenance units, following a deadly bombing attack on an underground train in Russia's St. Petersburg City on April 3. Peerayudh Singpatanakul, Governor of the state-run Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) told journalists of the update on April 4, saying that the heightened measures are a precaution for security confidence among passengers. Peerayudh stressed that he has ordered Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM), the operator of the subway service in the capital, as well as relevant security agencies to beef up security measures for the entire underground train system in the city around the clock. According to the MRTA chief, the stepped-up security measures include a thorough screening of passengers' carry-on bags, the compound and the vicinity of all subway or MRT stations and even inside all the carriages of all routes, along with deploying more rescue officers for 24-hour standby. The MRTA governor asked for cooperation from subway passengers to facilitate the operation of all the combined security officers, including local police, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) staff and their K-9 sleuths. Besides, the public have been asked to immediately provide tip-offs to security authorities, by calling Tel. 0-2716 4000 ext. 6302 or Tel. 0-2938-3666 around the clock, if they find any suspicious object or act. At least 10 people were reportedly killed and about 50 others were injured in Monday afternoon's suicide bombing attack on the underground train running between two tunnel stations in the Russian second largest city, while another bomb planted at a third station was successfully defused by a Russian security team. (TNA)