DSI says attack on jet fuel tank a 'terrorist act'

Published: 23/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section:Bangkok post

The Department of Special Investigation is treating Wednesday's grenade attack on a jet fuel tank as a special case because it constitutes an act of terrorism.

DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said yesterday a committee led by his department deemed the attack on the tank in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district as a special case because it created a climate of fear and affected national security. It was thus an act of terrorism.

A grenade was fired at the jet fuel tank owned by Thai Petroleum Pipeline Co (Thappline) at 1.15am, causing a fire on the side of the tank. The grenade caused a 4cm hole in the tank, but the fuel failed to ignite because of protective double layering.

There were 9 million litres in the tank at the time of the attack. The tank has a capacity of 22 million litres.

The DSI chief described the attack and last week's bombings at three high voltage electricity pylons in Ayuthaya's Bang Pa-in district as acts of terrorism.

PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said yesterday the latest attack was linked to other cases of sabotage in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

Provincial Police Region 1 chief Krissada Pankhongchuen yesterday led a team of police and scientists to inspect the affected oil tank which supplies fuel to Suvarnabhumi airport.

A piece of the rocket-propelled grenade fired at the tank was found nearby.

Police believed the assailants fired the RPG from a frontage road that runs parallel to the nearby motorway rather than from the motorway itself.

An engineer at PTT, the largest shareholder in Thappline, said workers yesterday began transferring fuel from the tank so police could examine it. Repairs to the tank would take several days, the engineer said.

In Ayutthaya, security measures will be stepped up at oil and power facilities. Ayutthaya governor Witthaya Piewpong said he would today invite representatives from four oil depots and three power plants in the province to discuss tightening security measures at their facilities.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra admitted the city administration was unable to protect oil depots in Bangkok from attack due to manpower constraints.

Klong Toey district chief Bundit Vinitchaikul said security measures had been increased in the district as there were major oil depots in the area, particularly those of Shell and PTT.