This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7749510.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Britons in Thai 'no man's land' | Britons in Thai 'no man's land' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| British travellers are in "no man's land" after anti-government protesters occupied Bangkok's main international airport, the Foreign Office has said. | British travellers are in "no man's land" after anti-government protesters occupied Bangkok's main international airport, the Foreign Office has said. |
| A spokesman said some Britons had already passed through immigration controls and were now stranded. | A spokesman said some Britons had already passed through immigration controls and were now stranded. |
| At least 3,000 passengers were stuck at the airport but the Thai authorities have been evacuating people to hotels. | At least 3,000 passengers were stuck at the airport but the Thai authorities have been evacuating people to hotels. |
| Ian Richards, 26, from Basingstoke, was being bussed to a hotel but said he had no idea what was happening after that. | Ian Richards, 26, from Basingstoke, was being bussed to a hotel but said he had no idea what was happening after that. |
| Most flights have been cancelled and demonstrators say the airport will stay shut until the government resigns. | Most flights have been cancelled and demonstrators say the airport will stay shut until the government resigns. |
| The head of Thailand's powerful army has called for the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections. | The head of Thailand's powerful army has called for the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections. |
| No information | No information |
| Briton Rachel Kyte spent 13 hours at the airport before eventually catching a taxi to a hotel in the Thai capital on Wednesday afternoon. | Briton Rachel Kyte spent 13 hours at the airport before eventually catching a taxi to a hotel in the Thai capital on Wednesday afternoon. |
| She had been awaiting a connection to Washington DC, where she now lives. | She had been awaiting a connection to Washington DC, where she now lives. |
| There's a lot of angry people, some sick, needing to get home Ian RichardsBritish traveller Thai army calls for new elections | There's a lot of angry people, some sick, needing to get home Ian RichardsBritish traveller Thai army calls for new elections |
| The World Bank worker said the lack of information and rumours of unrest had been fuelling the tense atmosphere. | The World Bank worker said the lack of information and rumours of unrest had been fuelling the tense atmosphere. |
| "We were being kept in the lounge on the ground floor level," she said. "The protesters were on the floor above. | |
| "There is the possibility the airport may run out of water and supplies. The people I feel sorry for are the families with babies, and the elderly and disabled travellers. | "There is the possibility the airport may run out of water and supplies. The people I feel sorry for are the families with babies, and the elderly and disabled travellers. |
| "People were starting to get frustrated and tired. It only takes one person to lose their cool and it can become a crowd mentality." | "People were starting to get frustrated and tired. It only takes one person to lose their cool and it can become a crowd mentality." |
| Mr Richards said he was being put on a bus to a hotel in Pattaya, a beach resort about 100 miles (165km) south of Bangkok. | Mr Richards said he was being put on a bus to a hotel in Pattaya, a beach resort about 100 miles (165km) south of Bangkok. |
| The 26-year-old, who is heading to Australia, had been at the airport for seven hours and had passed through immigration. | The 26-year-old, who is heading to Australia, had been at the airport for seven hours and had passed through immigration. |
| "Most people are being taken to hotels," he said. "I have no idea what happens after that. No-one seems to know what is happening but it is a lot calmer than it was before." | "Most people are being taken to hotels," he said. "I have no idea what happens after that. No-one seems to know what is happening but it is a lot calmer than it was before." |
| "There's a lot of angry people, some sick, needing to get home." | "There's a lot of angry people, some sick, needing to get home." |
| Consular assistance | Consular assistance |
| Hannah Simons, from London, was due to fly to Mumbai but she is stuck in Bangkok, unable to get near the airport. | Hannah Simons, from London, was due to fly to Mumbai but she is stuck in Bangkok, unable to get near the airport. |
| The 53-year-old Hebrew teacher said she was "desperate". | The 53-year-old Hebrew teacher said she was "desperate". |
| "I am calling the airport every minute but it is engaged," she said. "No-one wants to take responsibility, not the travel agent nor the airline. | "I am calling the airport every minute but it is engaged," she said. "No-one wants to take responsibility, not the travel agent nor the airline. |
| We are monitoring the situation and we do have a team of consular staff at the airport helping UK citizens Foreign Office spokesman | We are monitoring the situation and we do have a team of consular staff at the airport helping UK citizens Foreign Office spokesman |
| "I had paid a taxi in advance to pick me up this morning but it never arrived. No taxi will take us to the airport. | "I had paid a taxi in advance to pick me up this morning but it never arrived. No taxi will take us to the airport. |
| "The protesters checked my friend's luggage at gunpoint - they wanted to make sure he wasn't from the other side." | "The protesters checked my friend's luggage at gunpoint - they wanted to make sure he wasn't from the other side." |
| Mark Conneely told the BBC he had managed to get one of the last flights out of Bangkok. | Mark Conneely told the BBC he had managed to get one of the last flights out of Bangkok. |
| He was told to stay in his hotel but had been willing to take the risk of heading to the airport. | He was told to stay in his hotel but had been willing to take the risk of heading to the airport. |
| "The scene was very scary, very hairy," he said. "There was an awful lot of people basically shouting." | "The scene was very scary, very hairy," he said. "There was an awful lot of people basically shouting." |
| Some Britons who have already passed through immigration may be unable to travel back through the Thai airport into Bangkok as their visas are no longer valid. | Some Britons who have already passed through immigration may be unable to travel back through the Thai airport into Bangkok as their visas are no longer valid. |
| A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesman said: "Some people were stuck in the no man's land between the immigration and the plane but they are being looked after by airport officials. | A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesman said: "Some people were stuck in the no man's land between the immigration and the plane but they are being looked after by airport officials. |
| "We are monitoring the situation and we do have a team of consular staff at the airport helping UK citizens." | "We are monitoring the situation and we do have a team of consular staff at the airport helping UK citizens." |
| Alternative arrangements | Alternative arrangements |
| It is not known exactly how many Britons have been affected by the siege. | It is not known exactly how many Britons have been affected by the siege. |
| The airport is a major international hub and the blockade is affecting all those wanting to fly in and out of Bangkok. | The airport is a major international hub and the blockade is affecting all those wanting to fly in and out of Bangkok. |
| We are paying for hotels for customers and keeping them informed British Airways spokesman | We are paying for hotels for customers and keeping them informed British Airways spokesman |
| British Airways is using Singapore airport as an alternative or offering refunds to people who no longer wish to travel to Bangkok. | British Airways is using Singapore airport as an alternative or offering refunds to people who no longer wish to travel to Bangkok. |
| A BA spokesman claimed only a small number of the airline's passengers were caught up in the airport closure, saying: "The timing of our flights both north and south out of Bangkok meant that we had very few customers in the airport at the time of the incident. | A BA spokesman claimed only a small number of the airline's passengers were caught up in the airport closure, saying: "The timing of our flights both north and south out of Bangkok meant that we had very few customers in the airport at the time of the incident. |
| "We are paying for hotels for customers and keeping them informed." | "We are paying for hotels for customers and keeping them informed." |
| Abta, the Travel Association, said arrangements would be made to evacuate those still stranded at the airport. | Abta, the Travel Association, said arrangements would be made to evacuate those still stranded at the airport. |
| A spokesman said tour operators had been trying to contact UK customers who were due to fly to Bangkok, so no-one should be heading to airports. | A spokesman said tour operators had been trying to contact UK customers who were due to fly to Bangkok, so no-one should be heading to airports. |
| If the situation continued, alternative arrangements would be made, he added. | If the situation continued, alternative arrangements would be made, he added. |
| The FCO website described the political situation in Thailand as "very uncertain" and advised those heading to Bangkok to check with their airline or tour operator before travelling. | The FCO website described the political situation in Thailand as "very uncertain" and advised those heading to Bangkok to check with their airline or tour operator before travelling. |
| Small explosions | Small explosions |
| The protesters, from the People's Alliance for Democracy, want to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who had been due to arrive at the airport from an overseas trip. However, his flight will be diverted to another airport. | The protesters, from the People's Alliance for Democracy, want to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who had been due to arrive at the airport from an overseas trip. However, his flight will be diverted to another airport. |
| Incoming flights have been diverted to other Thai airports, including Chiang Mai and Phuket. | Incoming flights have been diverted to other Thai airports, including Chiang Mai and Phuket. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok said the protesters had now taken full control of Suvarnabhumi airport, seizing the control tower and blocking access roads. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok said the protesters had now taken full control of Suvarnabhumi airport, seizing the control tower and blocking access roads. |
| He said there was utter confusion at the airport, although the yellow-shirted demonstrators had been relaxed in dealing with tourists. | He said there was utter confusion at the airport, although the yellow-shirted demonstrators had been relaxed in dealing with tourists. |
| He added that a series of small explosions among the protesters early on Wednesday morning had injured several and underlined the risk of more violent clashes with pro-government groups. | He added that a series of small explosions among the protesters early on Wednesday morning had injured several and underlined the risk of more violent clashes with pro-government groups. |
| Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the protests? Has the airport closure disrupted your travel plans? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the protests? Has the airport closure disrupted your travel plans? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |