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.

Bomb terror grips Silom

- Four grenades hit business district - 3 people killed, up to 75 injured

Published: 23/04/2010 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Bangkok post

Silom was turned into a war zone Thursday night after four grenades were fired into the area where anti-red shirt protesters had converged, killing three people and injuring 75 people.

Foreigners were among those hurt.

As the protesters waved national flags to show their opposition to the red shirts and a House dissolution by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, three grenades fired from M79 launchers exploded near 'the skytrain station at 8pm. One came down through the roof of the BTS Sala Daeng station. About 45 minutes later, another grenade landed near the Dusit Thani Hotel on Silom Road.

People then fled for their lives.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thauguban said late last night three people had been killed and 75 people injured, including many serious cases. The injured were sent to Bangkok Christian, BNH, Chulalongkorn and Lerdsin hospitals.

Only one of the three dead was identified, Tanyanan Taebthong. She was 26 years old.

The area near Sala Daeng intersection and the Sala Daeng BTS station had become a protest hotspot over the past few days, as more people living and working there turned up to vent their frustration at the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which had set up barricades on the other side of the intersection.

US Travel Alert

Travel Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

April 22, 2010

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand of ongoing demonstrations in Bangkok. Due to escalating violence in central Bangkok, all U.S. citizens should avoid nonessential travel to Bangkok. Those traveling outside of Bangkok in Thailand should be aware of the possibility of disturbances elsewhere and should exercise caution and good judgment. This replaces the Travel Alert dated April 12, 2010, to update information on security concerns. This Travel Alert will expire on July 22, 2010.

Three Bombs Blast in Yangon

16 April 2010
MRTV-3

Insurgents blasted a series of 3 bombs in front of the X2O Water Pandal on the ring bound of Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon on Thursday. The blasts occurred at about 3 pm, killing 8, and injuring 170 civilians. The injured were immediately sent to the Yangon General Hospital. The bombs were detonated among the crowd celebrating the Myanmar Thingyan Water Festival.

The authorities are investigation the parties responsible for the blasts, and vow to expose the insurgents. Authorities warn the public taking part in the water festival throughout Myanmar including Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay, to be on high alert. And immediately inform relevant authorities if they observe suspicious activities, via telephone or any other means. There is an air of shock and anger at the insurgents responsible, for the death of innocent people, during this time of celebration.

Why Safety and Security is Important Today?

No Safety, No Security = No Business

Aviation Security News - 5th APRIL 2010

On Wednesday (30/03), the European Commission published it’s thirteenth update of the list of airlines banned from operating in the European Union, to include all air carriers of two additional countries: Sudan and the Philippines, on the basis of safety assessments by ICAO. The operations of Iran Air will be restricted, and all carriers from 17 countries are banned: Angola, Benin, DRC, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia. 10 carriers are allowed to operate under restrictions and conditions - Air Koryo from the Democratic People Republic of Korea, TAAG Angola Airlines, Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Iran Air from Iran Gabon Airlines, Afrijet and SN2AG from Gabon, Air Bangladesh, Air Service Comores and Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines from Ukraine.

Airline operators want better airport security

By Okechukwu Nnodim

April 2, 2010 04:27AM

Next News

Airline operators in the country, yesterday, described the incident, in which a taxi driver crashed into an aeroplane, as an “act of terrorism” and called on the federal government to improve security at all airports in the country.

On Wednesday, 95 passengers onboard an Arik Air Boeing 737 700 aircraft at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, were left scrambling for their lives after the driver of a registered taxi cab intentionally crashed his car into their aircraft.

The operators, under their umbrella union, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), disclosed that Wednesday’s security breach should not be taken lightly as is being reported by the aviation security personnel at the airport.

“To imagine that a driver who does not work at an airport penetrates up to the point of hitting a plane that is about to takeoff is highly unbelievable and indicates a serious security breach at that airport,” said Mohammed Tukur, assistant secretary general AON, during a briefing at the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

Calling on the government and other security agencies to assist aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to get to the root of the situation, Mr. Tukur said the incident is “dangerous” to the growth of airlines.

“We want the federal government and relevant security outfits to investigate this matter beyond what they (aviation security) are saying that the driver is a madman,” he said.

“We keep complaining that the airports authority is not serious about safety and security of lives and this was displayed yesterday at Calabar international airport.”

Akin Olukuknle, general manager public affairs FAAN, disclosed that the driver of the cab was on top speed and could not be stopped by security operatives at the airport.

“The guy was on top speed and he slammed into the first and second barriers guarded by airforce men at the airport,” he said.

Additional security

Meanwhile, the airline operators requested an increase in security across airports in the country, adding that Calabar incident was targeted at an expensive aircraft owned by only a few carriers in the country.

“If the government needs to provide additional security personnel at the airport, then so be it, for it is very important at this time,” said Tukur.

“The Boeing 737 700 aircraft in question which is being parked right now because of the damages done it by that taxi can buy ten passenger MD 83 planes.”

U.S. Implements New Airline Security Measures

April 2, 2010 | 7:07 AM ET
FOX News

A Senior Administration Official tells Fox that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday will announce changes to current aviation security procedures. In the wake of the attempted Christmas day airline bombing, DHS will add a new layer of measures that utilize real-time, threat-based intelligence and will apply to all flights entering the United States.

The enhanced measures will apply to all passengers traveling by air to the United States. "To more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats, these measures utilize multiple, random layers of security," said a Senior Administration Official. "Both seen and unseen and are tailored to intelligence about potential threats."

Additional screening will be conducted on passengers traveling into the U.S. if they match "current, intelligence-driven and threat-based characteristics."

The White House says that individuals flying from international destinations may notice enhanced security and screening measures throughout the passenger check-in and boarding process, including the use of explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams, or pat downs, among other security measures.

Air carriers and foreign countries were notified of the changes on Thursday, with the new measures being implemented Friday.

The security changes are the result of the President's review of intelligence surrounding the December 25, 2009 incident.

Weekly News (22 Mar 2010- 29 Mar 2010)

CHILE

On Tuesday (23/03), an IED functioned outside the headquarters of LAN Airlines, the Chilean national carrier, in Santiago. The device, said to comprise a bottle filled with hydrochloric acid and coins, resulted in minor damage to the building. Authorities suspect the attack, and another against a bank in the city, are related to the upcoming anniversary, commonly known as the Day of the Young Combatant, of the death of two brothers killed by police in 1985 while protesting the dictatorship of General Pinochet.


GAMBIA

On Monday (22/03), it was reported that the head of security at Banjul Airport (BJL) is reported to have left the country after he was arrested and questioned by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking involving the Inspector General of Police, who was recently sacked after being arrested for offences relating to espionage and drugs smuggling at BJL.


INDIA

On Friday (26/03), it was reported that three former Kingfisher Airlines employees were arrested in connection with the discovery of an IED in the hold of a Kingfisher ATR72 on March 21st at Bangalore Airport (BLR). The three were detained by immigration officials at BLR as they were about to board a flight to Dubai (DXB) with an onward connection to Kabul (KBL). The three ground staff members recently resigned from the carrier. One of those arrested had previously been a member of the CISF. (See the original report in ASN 220310).


On Saturday (27/03), the CISF launched an investigation after two separate breaches of security in the restricted area of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL). A 65-year-old man scaled the perimeter fence close to an emergency access point. He was detained by the CISF and was later handed over to Police. He later claimed that he wanted to get to Saudi Arabia. In the second incident, a 28 year-old male was arrested after he climbed a tree and jumped over the perimeter fence close to a maintenance area. He reached the apron where he attempted to board an Air India aircraft before being detained by security officers.


ISRAEL

On Wednesday (24/03), following the decision of the British Government to expel the head of Mossad’s London station, it was claimed that an investigation by the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) into the use of cloned British passports in the assassination in Dubai of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, concluded that the documents must have been cloned with the assistance of control agency staff at Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) or at Israeli airline offices in other countries.


KUWAIT

On Friday (26/03), a baggage handler at Kuwait Airport (KWI) was arrested in connection with the theft of a briefcase containing a quantity of cash from a passenger in the departures area. The loader was attempting to leave the airport in possession of the stolen money when he was stopped by security officers.


UNITED KINGDOM

On Wednesday (24/03), a man who wanted Police at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to shoot him in a "death-by-cop suicide" was sent to prison for three years for possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The court heard that David Sheehan boarded a bus to the airport in July, telling passengers: "Don't go to Gatwick as people are going to get shot." He got off the bus and made his way to a shop where he pointed a replica pistol at a member of staff and said: "Where are the police, I'm ready to die." Officers arrived and when he appeared to reach for his replica gun again, he was shot with a Taser.


On Wednesday (24/03), a committee of MP’s condemned airport security chiefs for failing to keep ahead of terrorists, and said 'overseas weak points' in airport security posed a serious risk to the United Kingdom. The all-party Home Affairs Select Committee said that airport operators had been reluctant to aggressively adopt new measures. The Committee said the Government's approach was "wholly reactive" and involved "waiting for terrorists to demonstrate their new capabilities before implementing improved security measures." They criticised delays in introducing new security technology and supported the introduction of body imaging, saying that privacy concerns "are overstated" and "should not prevent the deployment of scanners". The committee also recommended that airport scanners should be camouflaged to prevent the identification of the equipment used. Go to the Resources page for the full report.


UNITED STATES

On Tuesday (23/03), the terminal at Yuma Airport (YUM) was evacuated after an anonymous caller claimed that there were four explosive devices in the building. An EOD unit from nearby Marine Corps Air Station Yuma was called. The area was searched by Police using explosives detections dogs, but nothing unusual was found. The airport was closed for almost two hours.


On Wednesday (24/03), Retired Major General Robert Harding said he wants to shift airport passenger screening closer to the Israeli model to include more behaviour detection in a bid to thwart terrorist plots. Harding, who was nominated as a possible head of the TSA, said that while the Israeli security system was smaller, it offered a blueprint for trying to thwart terrorism plots in the aviation system. He told the Senate Commerce Committee "We should move even closer to an Israeli model where there's more engagement with passengers, I think that increases the layers and pushes the layers out." He said the TSA had about 2,000 behavioral detection officers and that expanded training was needed. Harding later withdrew from consideration for the TSA post after senators questioned his business and personal dealings as a military contractor.


TSA Weekly Stats (15th - 21st March, 2010)

5 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints

28 firearms found at checkpoints

2 pax arrested due to suspicious behaviour or fraudulent travel documents