Incendiary blast at Thai Rath condemned
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Bang Sue police are investigating an attack at the Thai Rath daily headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road early yesterday morning, during which a small incendiary and two petanque balls were thrown at the guard box, causing some property damage and minor
Deputy Pheu Thai party spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the incident had nothing to do with an ongoing conflict between Pheu Thai-allied red shirts and the paper's cartoonist Chai Rachawat, whose recent criticisms of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted on his Facebook page, have caused a furore.
The Thai Journalist Association yesterday issued a statement condemning the attack and called for a speedy investigation and arrest of those behind the violence.
Police, quoting the three guards on duty who witnessed the 3am attack, said two men on a motorcycle stopped near the front gate and the pillion rider approached it on foot. He then threw two petanque balls at the guard box, hitting a glass window with one. The attacker then threw a large firework at the guards. The blast caused the remaining window to shatter, wounding one guard in the arm.
According to the security guards, two other men were also seen on another motorcycle parked at a distance and acting as lookouts.
All four men then fled northwards along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
