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People Sought in Bangkok Bombing May Have Fled Country, Police Say People Sought in Bangkok Bombing May Have Fled Country, Police Say
(about 7 hours later)
BANGKOK — Thailand’s chief of police said Sunday that those responsible for the deadly attack on a Bangkok shrine last week “may have already fled” the country, apparently trying to lower public expectations that the main person being sought would be caught anytime soon. BANGKOK — Thailand’s chief of police said Sunday that those responsible for the deadly attack on a Bangkok shrine last week “may have already fled” the country, apparently trying to lower public expectations that the main person being sought would be caught anytime soon.
“If the police are lucky we may be able to arrest them,” Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, the national police chief, told reporters. “If the police are lucky, we may be able to arrest them,” Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, the national police chief, told reporters.
Hamstrung by a paucity of evidence, the police have stumbled over false leads and complained that they lacked the equipment and technology to gain sufficient insights from the grainy security footage and other images they have gathered showing the man’s movements before and after the explosion.Hamstrung by a paucity of evidence, the police have stumbled over false leads and complained that they lacked the equipment and technology to gain sufficient insights from the grainy security footage and other images they have gathered showing the man’s movements before and after the explosion.
The blast last Monday at the Erawan Shrine left at least 20 dead and created panic in Bangkok’s main shopping district. More than a hundred people were injured, including some who remain in critical condition.The blast last Monday at the Erawan Shrine left at least 20 dead and created panic in Bangkok’s main shopping district. More than a hundred people were injured, including some who remain in critical condition.
After saying that they were seeking three additional people seen in security footage as suspects, the police later concluded they had no role in the bombing. Two were men who had stood near the other man as he placed a backpack believed to contain the bomb at the shrine. After saying that they were seeking three additional people seen in security footage as suspects, the police concluded they had no role in the bombing. Two were men who had stood near another man as he placed a backpack believed to contain the bomb at the shrine.
Sriwara Rangsipramanakul, the commissioner of police, said the authorities had conducted what he described as a massive operation, searching 3,000 locales, covering everything from condominiums to seedy guesthouses. Sriwara Rangsipramanakul, the commissioner of police, said the authorities had conducted a huge operation, searching 3,000 locales, covering everything from condominiums to seedy guesthouses.
“We haven’t found any suspects with connection with the bombing at all,” he said.“We haven’t found any suspects with connection with the bombing at all,” he said.
The Thai police say the motive for the attack remains unknown. They have left all possibilities open but play down the possibility of an international terrorist network, which they say is unlikely. The Thai police say the motive for the attack remains unknown. They have left all possibilities open but played down the possibility of an international terrorist network, which they say is unlikely.
The police are also investigating whether there is a link to another explosion that occurred on Tuesday, the day after the shrine blast, at a river pier in Bangkok. That blast caused no injuries. Security footage showed a man standing on a footbridge pushing a bag into the canal where the explosion occurred. The police are also investigating whether there is a link to an explosion that occurred on Tuesday, the day after the shrine blast, at a river pier in Bangkok. That blast caused no injuries. Security footage showed a man standing on a footbridge pushing a bag into the canal where the explosion occurred.
A sketch of the man being sought in Monday’s explosion released by the Thai police has been distributed to airports and border posts. It has also been widely disseminated on the Internet and sent to Interpol, the international police agency.A sketch of the man being sought in Monday’s explosion released by the Thai police has been distributed to airports and border posts. It has also been widely disseminated on the Internet and sent to Interpol, the international police agency.
Thai news media and users of social media have criticized top officials of the military junta that runs Thailand for missteps, contradictions and quirks.Thai news media and users of social media have criticized top officials of the military junta that runs Thailand for missteps, contradictions and quirks.
Although the arrest warrant lists a “foreign man” as the main suspect, police officials said they were not ruling out that the man wore a disguise and was Thai.Although the arrest warrant lists a “foreign man” as the main suspect, police officials said they were not ruling out that the man wore a disguise and was Thai.
Thailand’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has recommended that investigators watch “Blue Bloods,” the television police drama set in New York. “It can teach us ideas on procedure and achieving solutions,” he said. “Our country may not be able to follow it completely but it could raise our awareness.” Thailand’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has recommended that investigators watch “Blue Bloods,” a television police drama set in New York. “It can teach us ideas on procedure and achieving solutions,” he said. “Our country may not be able to follow it completely, but it could raise our awareness.”
On Sunday, a police spokesman expressed frustration at what he said were constant calls for progress in the investigation.On Sunday, a police spokesman expressed frustration at what he said were constant calls for progress in the investigation.
Addressing reporters, Prawut Thavornsiri, the spokesman, said the police were exhausted.Addressing reporters, Prawut Thavornsiri, the spokesman, said the police were exhausted.
“Look at my eyes, I haven’t slept at all,” he said. “My subordinates slept even less than me. We sleep at our desks. We’ve worked hard. This is not an easy case.”“Look at my eyes, I haven’t slept at all,” he said. “My subordinates slept even less than me. We sleep at our desks. We’ve worked hard. This is not an easy case.”