Thai police said they would circulate a description to Interpol of the chief suspect, an unidentified “foreign man” who is believed to be “Caucasian, Arab or mixed race”.
Advertisement
Police had earlier focused on two other “persons of interest” seen in security video footage close to the suspect as he apparently planted the bomb.
The bomb was probably “the work of at least 10 people and at least one month’s planning, with Thai people involved”, police chief Somyot Poompanmoung told reporters.
Suspicions were raised after CCTV footage revealed the two men standing in front of the main suspect, who was wearing a yellow shirt, as he discreetly left a backpack filled with explosives under a bench at the scene, according to BBC News.
Thai military spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said on Wednesday that the bombing was “unlikely to be linked to worldwide terrorism”.
Less than 24 hours later, a second, smaller bomb went off at a Saphan Taksin pier but did not cause any injuries.
StickboyBangkok tweeted “Alternative photofits of #Bangkok bomber without glasses, with short hair & wearing a cap (Pic Anamisis Zaki)” with the image of the suspect in different looks.
Police spokesman Prawut said the authorities are clueless of the main suspect’s whereabouts. Nationals from Hong Kong, the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore were also among the foreigners killed in the attack.
After the suspect left Suchart’s vehicle, he was seen by CCTV walking toward the Erawan Shrine, a popular place of worship for Thais and foreign tourists alike. Thai police last evening released a sketch of a young bespectacled “foreign man” who carried out the bombing and is believed to be part of the over 10-member network. They also said the attack did not seem to be intended exclusively for Chinese tourists.
Experts say the unprecedented scale of Monday’s attack and apparent targeting of tourists could indicate a game-changing escalation of tactics for the country’s usual suspects – or an entirely new threat. Thai authorities haven’t said what they think the motive for it might have been, other than making vague references to unspecified people or groups who want to hurt Thailand’s tourism industry and economy.
The explosion that killed 20 people and wounded 123 caused minor damage to the Brahma statute, said Bovornvet Rungrujee, director-general Fine Arts Department. Correspondent Jonathan Head reports that when he tried to bring the pieces to Bangkok police headquarters, he was turned away at the gate by officers who said the facility was closed.
Also Thursday, police doubled a reward for clues leading to the suspect’s arrest to 2 million baht, or $56,000, Somyot said.
Jimmy Barnes says he and his family feel lucky to be alive after escaping a bombing in Thailand.
Advertisement
“Of course [the government must remain vigilant] because any acts of terrorism can act as inspiration for local militant groups to conduct copycat attacks”, he said on Wednesday.
