Thai soldiers storm Bangkok protest camp
Violent clashes continue in Bangkok between Thai soldiers and anti-government protesters.
Four more people have been killed in the latest clashes, bringing the death toll to 40 with hundreds more injured.
The government is using armoured vehicles to storm the barricaded camp occupied by the ‘Red Shirt’ protestors.
The camp is believed to be home to thousands of people, including women and children, and stretches from the city’s shopping district south to the business centre.
The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to the Thai capital.
The British Embassy in Bangkok is closed to the public due to its proximity to the demonstrations.
The Embassy is providing a limited service at an alternative location for British nationals requiring urgent consular assistance.
Speaking from Bangkok on the BBC’s Today Programme today, Danny Pruce, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy, said:
“Things are pretty tense this morning. As you know, the Thai Government set a deadline of three o’clock yesterday afternoon for people to leave the protest sites, and after that declared those areas dangerous zones.
“Overnight last night there were further clashes between protestors and security personnel, and we understand there were a large number of arrests.
“Obviously, like others, we’re very concerned by the continuing violence here and hope that all sides will show restraint, but also find a route towards a peaceful resolution of the situation.
“We have just this morning been able to open a consular office away from the Embassy, in a hotel in a part of Bangkok that is well away from the demonstration zone. So that would enable us to offer face to face assistance to people who are here, and who need urgent consular help.”
The Thai government has decreed a public holiday until Friday to allow time to resolve the crisis.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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