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| Thai police hunt 'accomplices' of Bangkok bombing suspect | Thai police hunt 'accomplices' of Bangkok bombing suspect |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Thai police are trying to identify a man who was filmed dropping off a backpack in central Bangkok shortly before a blast that killed 22 people, and say they believe the bomber might have had accomplices. | Thai police are trying to identify a man who was filmed dropping off a backpack in central Bangkok shortly before a blast that killed 22 people, and say they believe the bomber might have had accomplices. |
| “We suspect he is the bomber,” national police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said of the young man in a yellow T-shirt and shorts who appeared on CCTV footage time-stamped minutes before the explosion on Monday evening. | “We suspect he is the bomber,” national police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said of the young man in a yellow T-shirt and shorts who appeared on CCTV footage time-stamped minutes before the explosion on Monday evening. |
| “We are also looking for other suspects in connection with the blast. These types of attacks are not usually planned by one person alone,” he added. | “We are also looking for other suspects in connection with the blast. These types of attacks are not usually planned by one person alone,” he added. |
| The security camera footage shows a man sitting on a bench and taking off a large, black backpack. He then stands up and walks away before checking his phone. | The security camera footage shows a man sitting on a bench and taking off a large, black backpack. He then stands up and walks away before checking his phone. |
| The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, said investigators have not been able to establish the nationality of the man with the backpack, who was thin with dark black hair and wearing wristbands on both arms, or whether he is still in the country. | |
| “I am confident that there are Thais involved but I am not saying it is just Thais or that there are foreigners,” he told a news conference. He said it was not clear yet if a small second explosion in Bangkok, on Tuesday, was linked to the first. | |
| Related: Bangkok bombing wrongfoots Thailand's junta | Related: Bangkok bombing wrongfoots Thailand's junta |
| No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Erawan shrine, a major attraction for both Hindus and Buddhists from Thailand and around Asia, especially China. The explosion, the most deadly in Thailand’s recent history, tore through the shrine, killing people on motorbikes in the street and passersby. | No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Erawan shrine, a major attraction for both Hindus and Buddhists from Thailand and around Asia, especially China. The explosion, the most deadly in Thailand’s recent history, tore through the shrine, killing people on motorbikes in the street and passersby. |
| On Wednesday morning, the site reopened. People lit candles and placed flower garlands at the base of the small shrine on the corner of a busy downtown intersection. The government has promised to repair the image of Brahma on the shrine, which suffered only minor damage to the chin and right arm. | On Wednesday morning, the site reopened. People lit candles and placed flower garlands at the base of the small shrine on the corner of a busy downtown intersection. The government has promised to repair the image of Brahma on the shrine, which suffered only minor damage to the chin and right arm. |
| In the early evening on Tuesday, a small explosive device appeared to have been thrown towards a pier from the Taksin bridge in the Thai capital, heightening concerns about continuing strikes on the capital. | In the early evening on Tuesday, a small explosive device appeared to have been thrown towards a pier from the Taksin bridge in the Thai capital, heightening concerns about continuing strikes on the capital. |
| Security camera footage showed people on a walkway at the Sathorn pier being showered with water after the object fell into the Chao Phraya river. A government spokesman said that both bombs used TNT but no link has been made to Monday’s attack and no one was hurt. | Security camera footage showed people on a walkway at the Sathorn pier being showered with water after the object fell into the Chao Phraya river. A government spokesman said that both bombs used TNT but no link has been made to Monday’s attack and no one was hurt. |
| A massive security breach, metres from luxury malls and five-star hotels in the heart of the capital, poses a major challenge to the military junta that seized power in May last year. The government has promised to bring security and stability after months of violent political turmoil. | A massive security breach, metres from luxury malls and five-star hotels in the heart of the capital, poses a major challenge to the military junta that seized power in May last year. The government has promised to bring security and stability after months of violent political turmoil. |
| The prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, told media the attack was “the worst incident that has ever happened in Thailand”. | The prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, told media the attack was “the worst incident that has ever happened in Thailand”. |
| “There have been minor bombs or just noise, but this time they aimed for innocent lives,” he said. “They want to destroy our economy, our tourism.” | “There have been minor bombs or just noise, but this time they aimed for innocent lives,” he said. “They want to destroy our economy, our tourism.” |
| The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said on Tuesday that a UK national, a resident of Hong Kong, lost her life in the attack. | The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said on Tuesday that a UK national, a resident of Hong Kong, lost her life in the attack. |
| “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and with the Thai people. Foreign office officials are in close contact with the Thai authorities and have offered UK assistance in the investigation of this abhorrent act,” he said. | “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and with the Thai people. Foreign office officials are in close contact with the Thai authorities and have offered UK assistance in the investigation of this abhorrent act,” he said. |
| The British embassy in Bangkok updated its travel advice. “You should monitor news reports, follow the advice of the local authorities and take extra care,” the embassy said. “There is a high threat from terrorism.” | The British embassy in Bangkok updated its travel advice. “You should monitor news reports, follow the advice of the local authorities and take extra care,” the embassy said. “There is a high threat from terrorism.” |
| At least 11 foreigners were killed in the explosion, with Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Indonesian and Malaysian citizens among the dead. | At least 11 foreigners were killed in the explosion, with Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Indonesian and Malaysian citizens among the dead. |
| The Thai government has offered financial compensation to the wounded and the families of the dead, both Thais and foreigners. | The Thai government has offered financial compensation to the wounded and the families of the dead, both Thais and foreigners. |
| Related: Tourists return to Bangkok blast area amid fears for vital industry | Related: Tourists return to Bangkok blast area amid fears for vital industry |
| Marik Foudijs, a 24-year-old backpacker from the Netherlands, said he was staying in the Khaosan Road, the backpacker centre of Bangkok, when the bomb detonated. The army moved in with vehicles but the party continued, with bars open into the early hours. | Marik Foudijs, a 24-year-old backpacker from the Netherlands, said he was staying in the Khaosan Road, the backpacker centre of Bangkok, when the bomb detonated. The army moved in with vehicles but the party continued, with bars open into the early hours. |
| “It won’t affect the backpackers but maybe families with small children will decide not to come,” he said. | “It won’t affect the backpackers but maybe families with small children will decide not to come,” he said. |
| Reacting to the bombing, Thailand’s baht currency slumped to a more than six-year low and shares fell in Bangkok. | Reacting to the bombing, Thailand’s baht currency slumped to a more than six-year low and shares fell in Bangkok. |