BANGKOK (AP) — The latest on the arrest of a suspect in the Bangkok shrine bombing (all times local):
7.30 p.m.
Thailand’s police chief says the bomb making material found in the apartment of a suspect is “the same, similar or the same type” as that used in the deadly bombing at a Bangkok shrine earlier this month.
The suspect, identified by police as a 28-year-old foreign man, was arrested Saturday from an apartment in a Bangkok suburb. It was the first possible breakthrough in the investigation into the Aug. 17 bombing of the Erawan shrine in central Bangkok, which killed 20 people and injured scores.
A day later another bomb exploded harmlessly in a separate neighborhood.
Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung told reporters: “The bomb materials are the same, similar or the same type” as the ones used in the two bombs.
Asked what could be the motive for the bombing, Somyot said “it’s a personal grudge .. not international terrorism.” He did not elaborate or give a clear explanation.
Somyot said the suspect had traveled in and out of the country since January 2014.
— Nattasuda Anusonadisai, Bangkok
6 p.m.
Thai authorities say a foreigner arrested in connection with the deadly Bangkok bombing was found in possession of illegal explosives and a number of passports.
Police spokesman Prawuth Thavornsiri said in a televised statement that police also found bomb making materials such as detonators and a metal pipe with lids, apparently meant to be used as a bomb.
He said that all this was found from the 28-year-old man’s apartment in the outskirts of Bangkok. The apartment was raided on Saturday by the police and the military who had been searching the area since morning.
He said several passports were found in the apartment but did not say from which country.
Prawuth said the suspect is most likely related to the Aug. 17 bombing of the Erawan shrine in central Bangkok which left 20 people dead, including several foreigners, and more than 120 people injured. A day later another bomb exploded in the Sathorn area of Bangkok but did not cause any injuries.
He said the suspect is being held by the military for interrogation.
He said “from our preliminary checks, he is related to both bombings … We believe he is a culprit in the same network.”
— Nattasuda Anusonadisai, Bangkok
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.