The bomb attack that killed 20 people at Bangkok’s Erawan shrine on Monday was carried out by a “network”, Thailand’s chief of police has said.
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Thawornsiri said that the sketch of the suspect was made based on the footage that indicated his fair complexion, medium-length black hair and fluffy beard.
He said the man gave him a piece of paper with the words “Lumpini Park” – an inner-city park in the capital – written on it in English and then had a phone conversation in a language that was not Thai or English.
Analysts have speculated about a wide range of groups – including opponents of military rule in the country or a rogue faction in the army or police – but there is so far no evidence to link the attack with any of them.
Police have not said how they reached that conclusion.
Authorities also announced a reward of 1 million baht (USD 28,000) for information leading to his arrest.
Police also said the suspect had material wrapped around his forearms, which they say could indicate he had previously suffered some kind of injury.
The two possible accomplices are seen standing in front of the man, said police spokesman Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri.
Moments later the bomb exploded killing at least 20 people, mainly foreigners, wounding scores more and sparking a manhunt for the bomber.
Meanwhile, Tuk-tuk driver Suchart Pan-ngam, 37, stepped forward this afternoon to answer questions to police who had been searching for him since footage of Monday’s attack showed the lead suspect.
The Shrine reopened to the public yesterday, with crowds gathering to pay their respects following the attack dubbed the “worst” in Thailand’s history by its Prime Minister.
The Bangkok bombing has captivated people across the country, but attacks in southern Thailand have killed more than 6,500 since January 2004, according to Thitinan Pongsudhiral, chairman of the Center for Strategy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
The police said in a statement that the bomb was probably “the work of at least 10 people and at least one month’s planning, with Thai people involved”.
On Tuesday CCTV footage and stills were released that appeared to show a young man, wearing a yellow t-shirt and heavy framed glasses, depositing a rucksack on a bench by the shrine before disappearing into the crowd just minutes before the explosion.
Pumpunmuang said the two blasts were carried out by the same perpetrators, some of whom could be foreigners, the Bangkok Post reported.
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Thailand deported more than 100 Uighurs in July back to China, where rights campaigners say they face persecution. After the blasts, the police suspected the involvement of the Thais in the bomb explosion. Details around the two unidentified men have not been released.
