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Six home-made bombs were found and disposed of at three spots in Lat Krabang area in eastern Bangkok early Friday morning after the arrest of a suspect in the Government Lottery Office (GLO) bombs case.
Police said a home-made bomb was placed by the wall of the Bangkok Bank's Sukhumvit 77 branch (Prawet) in Soi Lat Krabang 20.
At the second spot, two bombs were found at the entrance to Soi Kanchanaphisek 39.
At the third spot, three bombs were found at a U-turn under a bridge across Khlong Nong Prue opposite Suvarnabhumi market in Soi Lat Krabang 13.
All of the bombs, similar to the ones found earlier in front of the GLO, had been disposed of, police said.
The details were released by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung at a press conference also attend by Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, the national police chief, and Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai, the deputy Metropolitan Police chief.
Pol Gen Priewpan said that about 3am Metropolitan and Special Branch police arrested a man suspected to have laid a number of bombs in front of the GLO head office on Ratchadamnern Road on Dec 6. He was arrested the mouth of Soi Kanchanapisek 39.
The suspect, during the course of investigation, revealed that more bombs had been placed at the three spots, prompting police and bomb disposal units to rush to the scenes.
He was identified as Jirawat Chanpeng, a native of Sakon Nakhon province.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm said Mr Jirawat denied any involvement in the GLO bombs case.
Following the interrogation, police went to check the other sites and found the six bombs.
He said explosives ordnance disposal (EOD) police who examined the bombs found this morning and disposed of them said they were made by a trained bomb maker.
Police believed Mr Jirawat was not without accomplices. Whether he was backed by any political group was not known, he said.
A special team, led by Pol Maj-Gen Anuchai Lekbamrung, the deputy Metropolitan Police chief, was set up to further investigate the case.
Mr Chalerm said police would do their best to make sure the people can celebrate the New Year without any worry.
Meanwhile, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has asked security agencies to be more careful in giving out news about bombs being planted in Bangkok, because it could affect tourism.
Spokesman Watchara Kannika said the ministry is especially worried about news reported by foreign news agencies.
He was speaking in a press conference today following the discovery of six home-made bombs in eastern Bangkok.
"Relevant agencies," Mr Watchara said, "had better work carefully and quietly. They should not tell of their actions officially." http://www.bangko...in-bangkok
Antal indlæg: 3350 Tilmeldt: 03.07.09 Status: Offline
Man arrested for allegedly planting six bombs in Bangkok
Police arrested a 55-year-old man early Friday for allegedly planting six homemade bombs at three spots in Bangkok.
The suspect, Jirawat Janphen, was paraded in front of reporters at the Metropolitan Police Bureau at 10 am without being allowed to answer reporters' questions at all.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung was the only one who talked to reporters during the press conference, which lasted only 20 minutes before it was abruptly ended. Chalerm was accompanied by Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Priewphan Damapong and Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong and several other senior police officers.
Chalerm told the press conference that the suspect came from Sakon Nakhon and has been staying in Bangkok's Laksi district and has been hired to raise goats for the people in the area.
Chalerm alleged that Jirawat placed six homemade bombs at three spots. The deputy prime minister did not say how the man had obtained the homemade bombs.
Chalerm said Jirawat placed a bomb besides the building of Bangkok Bank, Soi Sukhumvit 77 branch. The bomb was supposed to be detonated with a remote control.
Two bombs were stuffed in a PVC pipe and left at the Wat Kingkaew Intersection and they were set to be detonated with a timing device.
Chalerm said the three other bombs were put inside PVC pipes and placed under a bridge on On Nuj Road in Lat Krabang district. They were also timed to explode.
Chalerm said the bomb squads of the Metropolitan Police had safely disposed all the bombs.
The deputy prime minister said the bombs appeared similarly made to those found on Rajdamnone Road.
Jirawat was charged with having explosives in possession without license. Chalerm said the suspect was arrested at 3 am at the Wat Kingkaew Intersection on a frontage road of the Bangkok-Chon Buri Montorway.
The suspect sat smiling with his face down during the press conference. He said he would testify only in court.
After reporters raised many questions for the suspect to answer, Chalerm, who was sitting beside him, cut short the press conference. Chalerm said he ended the press conference because Priewphan was very sleepy.
Chalerm concluded the press conference by asking Bangkokians to celebrate New Year holidays without having to worry about bomb attacks.
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Bombs suspect a 'former red-shirt guard'
Upset at not getting money, tried to see Thaksin: paper
The lone suspect allegedly behind the six bombs planted at three sites in Bangkok on Thursday, Jeerawat Janpeng, is a former security guard of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra red-shirt movement, Thai-language daily Khao Sod reported yesterday quoting an unnamed source.
The Sakhon Nakhon native, 45, reportedly became disgruntled after repeated requests to core red-shirt leaders, seeking their help for compensation and speedy investigation into the deaths of his relatives during the crackdown on protesters at the Ratchaprasong intersection last May by troops, came to nought, according to Khao Sod. Jeerawat reportedly travelled to Cambodia seeking a meeting with Thaksin, the de-facto leader of government coalition leader Pheu Thai Party, during a recent trip, but his request for a direct meeting with the former PM was denied, the Thai-language daily reported.
A day after the bombs were disposed of on Thursday, another bomb scare occurred yesterday when a fake bomb was found at a train station in Bangkok's Bang Khen area.
On being alerted by a vendor, a team of police ordnance officials inspected a 40cm black plastic pipe with two lids on both ends and tied with an electric wire. An onsite X-ray found nothing inside.
Police said later the pipe was deliberately placed near a bathroom to cause a disturbance, because the location was highly visible. The officers said they were collecting other evidence and fingerprints possibly left on the pipe, while an initial review of security camera footage showed no signs of who had planted the bomb.
Jeerawat was in court custody yesterday after the judges agreed with the police recommendation against releasing him on bail. The suspect pleaded not guilty after he was initially charged with possession of explosives without permission. He told reporters that he was not hired by anyone.
"The suspect has political ideals and ambitions, and possibly set up three bombs to create disturbances," Khao Sod quoted Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong as saying.
Aree Krainara, an aide to the interior minister and then chief of the red-shirt guards, denied that Jeerawat was a red shirt guard, saying he remembered all those who worked under him. He added that even if Jeerawat was once a red guard, he was supposed to act in support of the Pheu Thai-led government, not to undermine it.
"Reports about Jeerawat being a former red-shirt guard are certainly a smear campaign to discredit the government," he added.