Security drill kicked off where world leaders will gather for 35th ASEAN Summit in Thailand

BANGKOK, Oct 30, 2019, Bangkok Post. A major security drill was launched on Tuesday at Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi, where world leaders will gather for this weekend’s 35th Asean Summit and related meetings. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who presided over the drill in his role as national security chief, said he was confident the country was ready to respond to any unexpected incidents during the summits, reported the Bangkok Post.

Army commandos will be among 17,000 police and security officers deployed as security for the summits and related meetings.

Tuesday’s security exercise simulated responses to high-level security threats, as well as operations to rescue and evacuate summit attendees.

A Black Hawk helicopter was deployed during the drill, which saw security personnel rappel down ropes dropped from the chopper.

Gen Prawit said security and surveillance must be effective so as to prevent any possible recurrence of the rioting by red-shirt protesters that shut down the Asean Summit in Pattaya in 2009.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyotsuk said that security preparations for the summits in Bangkok and Nonthaburi were now complete. The intelligence units supervised by the police, the military and other security agencies were working at full capacity.

Authorities have so far received no intelligence reports about security threats to the summits.

Measures are also in place to handle individuals or groups who may attempt to lodge petitions with the summit delegations.

Meanwhile, the deputy police chief has instructed the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to coordinate information gathering and investigation ahead of the summits.

The CIB is tasked with monitoring security developments and ensuring that all security cameras are functioning properly. It will work closely with the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Police Region 1, and the forward command of Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4.

All police units have been ordered to secure important locations including embassies, mass-transit systems and shopping malls. Round-the-clock patrols are expected at risk spots and security checkpoints should appear on main roads.

Staff at the Police Hospital have been placed on full alert until Nov 5.

Also on Tuesday, the Immigration Bureau launched another crackdown on foreign criminals in Bangkok.