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| Thai Police Seek ‘Foreign Man’ in Bombing of Bangkok Shrine | Thai Police Seek ‘Foreign Man’ in Bombing of Bangkok Shrine |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BANGKOK — The Thai authorities on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant describing the person sought in the bombing of a Bangkok shrine this week as a “foreign man,” and said they believed that he had at least two accomplices. | |
| The motive for the bombing and the identity of the man remained unknown on Wednesday. The man’s image was captured by a security camera as he placed a backpack in the spot where minutes later an explosion ripped through the crowded Erawan Shrine, killing 20 people. | The motive for the bombing and the identity of the man remained unknown on Wednesday. The man’s image was captured by a security camera as he placed a backpack in the spot where minutes later an explosion ripped through the crowded Erawan Shrine, killing 20 people. |
| The Thai police released a sketch of the man with features they characterized as Caucasian, Arab or mixed race, saying he was about 20 to 30 years old and 5 feet 7 inches tall. | The Thai police released a sketch of the man with features they characterized as Caucasian, Arab or mixed race, saying he was about 20 to 30 years old and 5 feet 7 inches tall. |
| Although a police spokesman raised the possibility that the man was Thai and in disguise, the warrant on charges of premeditated murder was issued for an “unnamed foreign man who appears in the sketch drawing.” | Although a police spokesman raised the possibility that the man was Thai and in disguise, the warrant on charges of premeditated murder was issued for an “unnamed foreign man who appears in the sketch drawing.” |
| A motorcycle taxi driver said in a phone interview aired by Channel 3, a Thai TV station, that he had picked up a man matching the police description at a taxi stand a quarter of a mile from the shrine after the bomb exploded. | A motorcycle taxi driver said in a phone interview aired by Channel 3, a Thai TV station, that he had picked up a man matching the police description at a taxi stand a quarter of a mile from the shrine after the bomb exploded. |
| The driver, who gave his name as Kasem, said the man did not speak to him, just walked up and handed him a piece of paper with the words “Lumpini Park” written on it in English. Lumpini Park is a well-populated area in the commercial heart of Bangkok, about two-thirds of a mile from Erawan. | The driver, who gave his name as Kasem, said the man did not speak to him, just walked up and handed him a piece of paper with the words “Lumpini Park” written on it in English. Lumpini Park is a well-populated area in the commercial heart of Bangkok, about two-thirds of a mile from Erawan. |
| “He had a conversation on the phone,” Kasem said. “I don’t know what the language is. I don’t know, it but it is surely not Thai nor English language.” | “He had a conversation on the phone,” Kasem said. “I don’t know what the language is. I don’t know, it but it is surely not Thai nor English language.” |
| “I didn’t see anyone at where I left him,” he continued. “It was dark. There are some trees and it’s hard to see.” | “I didn’t see anyone at where I left him,” he continued. “It was dark. There are some trees and it’s hard to see.” |
| The Thai police spokesman, Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri, said the security camera footage showed two men who appeared to be accomplices at the shrine, including one who gave up his seat on a bench and then stood nearby as a backpack was being placed on the ground. | |
| Although the police said they were investigating a “network,” General Prawut clarified that this meant that the police believed that the perpetrators had gotten assistance with logistics, including obtaining materials to make the explosive device in the backpack. “We are not saying this was an international network,” he said in a telephone interview. | |
| The attack on Monday evening struck at the heart of Thailand’s tourist economy. In addition to six Thais, the dead included four Malaysians, four mainland Chinese, two residents of Hong Kong, an Indonesian and a Singaporean. Two other victims remained unidentified on Wednesday, according to the Bangkok Emergency Medical Services. More than 100 people were wounded, and several were listed in critical condition. | The attack on Monday evening struck at the heart of Thailand’s tourist economy. In addition to six Thais, the dead included four Malaysians, four mainland Chinese, two residents of Hong Kong, an Indonesian and a Singaporean. Two other victims remained unidentified on Wednesday, according to the Bangkok Emergency Medical Services. More than 100 people were wounded, and several were listed in critical condition. |
| The shrine, which sustained only minor damage in the explosion, reopened on Wednesday. Workers filled in the small crater created by the bomb, but the gilded statue of the four-faced Hindu god Brahma at the center of the shrine was missing a large piece of chin. | The shrine, which sustained only minor damage in the explosion, reopened on Wednesday. Workers filled in the small crater created by the bomb, but the gilded statue of the four-faced Hindu god Brahma at the center of the shrine was missing a large piece of chin. |
| Thailand’s chief of police, Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, told reporters that it was too early to say what had driven the perpetrators to plant the bomb. | Thailand’s chief of police, Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, told reporters that it was too early to say what had driven the perpetrators to plant the bomb. |
| “We haven’t come to a conclusion on the motives of the case yet, whether it is terrorism or political,” he said. | “We haven’t come to a conclusion on the motives of the case yet, whether it is terrorism or political,” he said. |
| General Somyot also announced a reward of 1 million baht, or about $28,000, for help leading to arrests. | General Somyot also announced a reward of 1 million baht, or about $28,000, for help leading to arrests. |
| The Bangkok Post, in an editorial on Wednesday, called for Thais, who have been deeply divided by politics over the past decade, to unite in trying to find the bombers. | The Bangkok Post, in an editorial on Wednesday, called for Thais, who have been deeply divided by politics over the past decade, to unite in trying to find the bombers. |
| “Monday’s brutal attack is clearly the worst in recent Thai history and bears no similarity to previous terrorism or violence,” the newspaper said. “It is only apparent that the bomber or group is the enemy of the people and the more united the people, the better the chances are for justice.” | “Monday’s brutal attack is clearly the worst in recent Thai history and bears no similarity to previous terrorism or violence,” the newspaper said. “It is only apparent that the bomber or group is the enemy of the people and the more united the people, the better the chances are for justice.” |