CNN journalists cleared over Thailand day centre footage but handed visa fines

People pray for the victims of a mass killing attack outside the gate of the Young Children’s Development Centre in the rural town of Uthai Sawan, north-eastern Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Thai authorities have fined two CNN journalists for working in the country on tourist visas but cleared them of wrongdoing for entering the day care centre where more than 20 children were killed.

Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said the journalists had been waved into the building by a volunteer or a health officer, but did not know the person was not authorised to allow them inside.