Police Make Breakthroughs in Bangkok Bombing Incidents

Published : August 06, 2010 :: 10:08:03 [ 2,004 views ]

Bangkok Metropolitan Police have moved closer to unravelling the numerous Bangkok bombings over the past two months, with several warrants and arrests having been made in the past 48 hours.

Bangkok, the 5^th of August 2010: Following the recent Rangnam and Ratchadamri Road bombings police efforts to apprehend the fugitive offenders have intensified, leading to the arrest of one suspect on Wednesday. Metropolitan Police Region 1 officers, following an extensive investigation linking him to several bombings including the Rangnam Road incident, arrested Mr. Sorathian Singkanya [23] at his home near the capital.

Under interrogation, Mr. Singkanya confessed to having been involved with the anti-government Red Shirt protests during April/May of this year. He was allegedly instructed on how to construct an effective explosive device at one of the encampments near the Sala Daeng intersection. He has since admitted to several minor incidents of abandoning components for a bomb and given police the name of the man he had been taking orders from, Mr. Suwit (AKA Bungwai [surname unknown]).

Having admitted to being responsible for abandoning a bag at the Sala Daeng intersection, found to contain several component parts for a large explosive device, including an M82-2 grenade, police have subsequently arrested Mr. Singkanya on numerous terrorism related charges. He has however denied any responsibility in the Rangnam Road or Ratchadamri bombings, despite both devices and several others being made from similar components.

At present, Bangkok Metropolitan Police and the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) suspect that the Rangnam Road bombing along with a bomb placed at the house of the Election Commission Chairman are from the same person/s. Investigations at the Ratchadamri Road bombing site are still ongoing, however, police have noted various similarities to the other cases.

Meanwhile, investigating police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Suwit, wanted in connection with several bombings and possession of illegal materials. Allegedly, Mr. Suwit has since been in contact with authorities over the warrant, but at present has not handed himself in to police.

In a related development, Thai courts have also issued two arrest warrants for suspects in the Big C (Ratchadamri Road) bombing, Mr. Kittisak or Uan Soonsro and Mr. Seksan Worapiticharoenkul. A third suspect, Mr. Thanadej or Kai Akeapiwat is still under investigation by the Department of Special Investigations (DSI).

Unconfirmed late-breaking reports suggest that one of the suspects has subsequently been arrested by police.

Photo by : Paul_012 and the Flickr