Thai police: U.S. Consulate may be hit

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CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Security at the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was increased after police got a tip that terrorists planned to attack it this month, officials said.

After a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she was briefed about the information and ordered increase security at the consulate even though U.S. officials didn't request it, the Bangkok Post reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said the information that reached the government indicated al-Qaida and Salafist terrorists planned to launch an attack on the U.S. consulate in Chiang Mai as part of an operation named "Billiard Ball."

"We heard of the plot on Wednesday [Feb. 6] and ordered police to increase security at the consulate," Yubamrung said.

The U.S. Consulate posted on its website a notice for U.S. citizens in Thailand that the Citizens Services Section would not handle appointments from Tuesday through Thursday.

Provisional police armed with rifles guarding the consulate, the Post said. A checkpoint was set up in front of the consulate and no parking was permitted on the street in front of the facility.