According to bangkokpost, One thousand police officers will guard the New Year’s Eve countdown celebration at CentralWorld and phone booths in the area will be sealed off to prevent bombs being planted in them, according to Metropolitan Police deputy chief Wiboon Bangtamai.

A huge turnout of revellers is expected on the night of Dec 31 for the New Year countdown activities around the Ratchaprasong intersection adjacent to the CentralWorld shopping mall.

Pol Maj-Gen Wiboon said access to public telephone booths in close proximity would also be prevented until the event comes to an end in a bid to foil bomb attacks in which explosive devices are placed inside the booths.

The tougher security measures are being put in place to avoid a repeat of the New Year’s Eve 2006 bombs.

CentralWorld Eight bombs went off in Bangkok and another one exploded in Nonthaburi on the night of Dec 31, 2006, and the early hours of Jan 1, killing three people and injuring 42.

Police from Division 5, Division 6, the Special Operations Police Division, the Traffic Police Bureau and the Tourist Police Bureau will be mobilised, Pol Maj-Gen Wiboon said after a two-hour meeting on security measures for the 2009 countdown on Friday.

Also, military units and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) city inspectors will lend a hand in tightening security with three operations command hubs located at the Trimurti shrine, CentralWorld’s underground and Lumpini police station.

He said the traffic lane from Ratchaprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection would be closed from 6pm on Dec 31 to 1am on Jan 1.

On the ground, roads in the area will be closed and steel barricades erected. Policemen carrying hand-held metal detectors will be posted at the four entrances to the venue.

Police officers will work from 4pm on Dec 31 until the event ends, Pol Maj-Gen Wiboon said.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal team will launch a thorough search of public telephone booths in close proximity to the countdown venue while both uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be on patrol around the clock.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, Metropolitan Police deputy chief Thani Somboonsab yesterday said security will be stepped up at major tourist attractions during the New Year celebrations following a meeting with police officers from Provincial Police Region 3.

Pol Gen Thani said the number of road accidents is expected to be lower than last year thanks to road safety awareness campaigns.

Detailed travel plans will help tourists avoid congested roads out of the city.

Provincial Police Region 3 chief Pol Lt-Gen Krissada Pankhongchuen said police officers in eight provinces under his jurisdiction were told to keep a close watch on people who may cause disturbances and threaten public safety during the festive period.

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