Three Thais held
One suspect charged with terrorism
Police have arrested three men over alleged links to the recent car bombs in southern Thailand
BANGKOK: Police have arrested three men over the past three days for their alleged links to the recent car bombs in Yala, Songkhla and Pattani, which killed 14 and injured many others.
National police chief General Priewphan Damapong yesterday disclosed that there was solid evidence against one of the men arrested, adding that it was believed that the suspect might have been involved in the deadly bombing incident at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla’s Haadyai district on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Deputy prime ministery uthasak Sasiprapha reiterated yesterday that several arrest warrants had been issued but did not identify the suspects or provide details as to which of the incidents they were allegedly involved in.
So far, two suspects are in custody after having been identified by other sources of information.
One of the suspects, Samlee Puluduereh, was arrested on Tuesday over charges of terrorism, attempted murder and possessing explosives. He is suspected of having planted a roadside bomb in Pattani, one of the many bomb attacks last weekend, including those in Yala and Songkhla’s Haadyai district.
The other is Anuwat Tohjeh, 22, a resident of Yala’s Muang district, who was seen in security camera footage driving a vehicle following a pickup that was used in the Yala attack. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Samlee was apprehended in a police raid on his Pattani home, where he was found to have a 100m electrical cord, along with nails and steel-cutting pliers - material and equipment required for setting up roadside bombs.
Security camera footage showed a suspect resembling Samlee, and wearing clothing similar to what was found at his home.
Samlee said he had been at home with his wife at the time of the attack, and denied that the trousers found in his house were his.
Earlier, Yuthasak warned against the likelihood of further bomb attacks or other violence in the coming months to mark several notable occasions, including the anniversaries of the Tak Bai and Krue Se incidents, together with a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.
“Whatever havoc they want to inflict, they will make it happen now, and get their rewards,” he said.
As for those subject to yesterday’s arrest warrants, he said the suspects worked at several levels, were attached to several groups of insurgents and were both old hands and new faces. He did not, however, give details of their identities or affiliations, or whether the warrants also covered people other than those suspected of carrying out last weekend’s car bomb attacks at three locations.
He said a number of vehicles reported missing were being tracked down, and added that registration and parking regulations must be overhauled and strictly enforced in order to minimise the chance of more vehicle or motorcycle bombs in the future.
On the possible suicide bombs in the south, he said such a practice was still unlikely in Thailand. On recent talks between Thai politicians and an insurgent leader, Yuthasak declined to comment. He also refused to say anything about talks with BRN Coordinate, an umbrella group representing various groups of insurgents in the deep South.
“I don’t agree with negotiations and will not comment on the BRN talks. I amnot allowed to do so,” he added. — The Nation / Asia News Network.