BANGKOK, Aug 2 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha ordered security to be beefed up after series of bombings were reported in the capital, leaving some people in injured.
Naruemon Pinyosinwat, spokeswoman of the Prime Minister’s Office said the prime minister, who is also the defense minister instructed officials to investigate the incidents and to closely monitor the situation. He also asked people not to panic and to alert the police if they find any irregularity.
In the latest development, Pol Lt Gen Sutthipong Wongpin, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau confirmed five bomb incidents in Bangkok and said they were probably connected.
Bomb-like sounds were heard at the Chang Wattana Government Complex this morning and a bomb squad is disposing an explosive device outside the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Laksi district.
Three bomb-like sounds came from the bushes in front of the building B in the eastern side of the Chang Wattana Government Complex between 7 am. to 9 am. when civil servants were entering their offices. No one was wounded in the incidents.
Witnesses said the first bomb occurred at 6 am. in a flower pot at the entrance of the building B and the second explosion was heard from a flower pot opposite the Election Commission office. The third one occurred in front of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team discovered the fourth bomb while clearing the area at the armed forces headquarters.
Around 9 am. in the business area in Sathorn district, two bomb-like sounds were heard outside the Maha Nakhon skyscraper and in the bushes under the BTS’s Chong Nonsi station.
The police have cordoned off the site and the bomb disposal unit destroyed a suspicious object by high pressure water.
In another bombing incident, three street sweepers were wounded when a homemade bomb went off in Soi RamaIX 57/1 in Suan Luang district.
However, some local residents said that the bomb could be hidden there by students and was not likely to be linked to other bombing incidents in the capital this morning.
Meanwhile, the police arrested two suspects for alleged involvement in placing fake bombs in front of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters yesterday.
The arrest was made on an interprovincial bus at a police checkpoint in the southern province of Chumphon.
They have been detained for question in Bangkok. CCTV cameras captured their image at the BTS Siam Station and Siam Paragon shopping complex before they went to the Mor Chit bus terminal.
The duo denied any wrongdoing while the police are checking their records and possible connection to any political or violent incidents. (TNA)
