Police arrest Erawan bomb suspect

August 29, 2015

Thai police have arrested a young man in connection with the Erawan shrine bombing. He reportedly holds a Turkish passport although it could very well be fake. According to the report, Thai police raided an apartment on Soi Chueam Samphan 11 in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district about two o’clock this afternoon, arresting its occupant. The reports also say bomb-making equipment was found, including ball-bearings very similar to those used in the Erawan shrine bombing. ..national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said plainclothes police were instrumental in tracking down the suspect and that others were involved in the plot, possibly some Thais.

Voice of America reporter Steve Herman has tweeted that police informed him that the suspect is 28 years old and is apparently from Istanbul.

Photos said to be of the suspect’s passport are being shared through the social media and some are saying that it is clearly a fake. Even the capital “Istanbul” is spelled incorrectly in Turkish, sources say. Thai PBS reports that other passports were also found and the suspect had rented several rooms in the apartment. (Update: Thai police are now confirming the passport was forged.)

The PBS has just reported (5:30pm) that the suspect has been taken away from apartment and will undergoing intensive questioning. His nationality has not been confirmed.

Police have scheduled a press conference for 6pm.

6pm update In a surprisingly short (3-minute) statement, Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen-Prawut Thavornsiri confirmed that a foreign national of unspecified nationality has been taken into custody and is believed to be involved in both the Erawan shrine bombing and the Sathorn pier bombing. Pol Lt-Gen Prawut also showed photos of various bomb-making materials found in the apartment, including detonaters and a steel pipe. The man, the police say, may not have planted the bombs, but he is part of the network that carried out the operation.

Post Today reports tonight that five rooms were rented out in the apartment under the name AHEMET MEHMMET EMIN AYSE. Police have released more photos of materials found in the apartment and they do look suspicious suspicious indeed. It seems quite possible that members of the group involved were planning more attacks.