Police track components of bomb used in Bangkok
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Police investigating Sunday night's bomb blast in Bangkok's Soi Ramkhamhaeng 43/1 suspect the bomb components were purchased at a local store in the past two to three days.
The motive for the bombing, which injured seven people, was still unclear.
The bomb was not so powerful, so it didn’t aim to kill, and it was different than the type of bombs used in the Southern unrest, Metropolitan Police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrajang said yesterday.
Police were looking into a street vendors’ conflict or possibly fighting by rival political groups, and they haven’t totally ruled out the Deep South conflict.
Khamronwit said police were gathering evidence, checking on groups that had something to gain from the bombing and reviewing security camera footage.
SECURITY BOOSTED
Security was strengthened in community areas as well as such key places as the Government House, Parliament and the Constitutional Court.
Security was also boosted at the privy councillors’ and ambassadors’ residences, the prime’s minister’s residence in the Lat Phrao area, Victory Monument, the Ratchaprasong Intersection, shopping malls, the Privy Council’s House and the Defence Ministry in Phra Nakhon district.
Khamronwit said Hua Mark police had interviewed Bangkok Metropoli-tan Administration officials and law-enforcement officers about street vendors and footpath stall concessions as causes of possible conflict.
Police also searched nearby houses and apartments and checked shops for the origin of headless two-inch nails used in the bomb.
Some suspected components – wire, duct tape and batteries – were bought from the Big C Ramkham-haeng branch in the past two to three days.
Other shops selling possible bomb components, especially gunpowder or fireworks, were also being checked.
Three of the seven bombing victims remained in hospital and were in stable condition, police spokesman Piya Uthayo said.
