Bomb squad officers croaked

PHUKET TOWN: A bomb alert forced the closure of Yaowaraj Rd between Thalang Rd and Dibuk Rd for several hours last night. Rattana Ungtrakul, 47, called police after finding a package in the basket of her motorbike, which was parked outside her curtain shop. She explained that it was a well-wrapped white post-office-style parcel addressed to her shop, with the Wichit curtain shop in Bangkok listed as sender. After her call, at about 9:45 pm, police diverted traffic while the Bomb Disposal Unit was called in, along with officers from the Tungsong Border Patrol Police, who are currently in Phuket to boost security on the island. In the wake of the Bali outrage, police were taking no chances. The bomb squad scanned the parcel with metal detectors. No metal was detected. Slowly and carefully, they opened it. Inside they found, not explosives, but three live toads. Police believe the toads were left there by pranksters, whom they are very keen to interview.