Thai police know mastermind of attacks

BANGKOK—Thai police investigating a wave of bombings that rocked tourist destinations and killed four people on Sunday said they had identified who was behind the attacks.

Police said two men have been held for questioning over the blasts in Hua Hin—a resort town struck by four of the bombs—with a third arrested over a suspected arson attack in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Probe progressing

“Our investigation is progressing. We know who was behind it,” the deputy national police spokesperson, Piyapan Pingmuang, told Agence France-Prese (AFP) on Sunday. He declined to provide further details on those detained or offer a possible motive.

Some analysts suggest the bombs were the work of Muslim rebels waging a long-running insurgency in Thailand’s southern tip.

Police have rejected that theory and also ruled out international terrorist groups, insisting the bombings were acts of “local sabotage.”

Still in Thailand

“We believe [the bombers] are still in Thailand,” the deputy national police chief, Ponsapat Pongcharoen, told reporters on Sunday.

“All the incidents, bombs and arson attacks, were connected… we will talk about the motive later. Right now we are working on processing evidence that will lead to suspects,” he added.

At least 11 bombs and a series of suspected arson attacks ripped across seven southern provinces on Thursday and Friday, killing four locals and wounding more than 30 people including European tourists.

Affront to junta

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which are seen as an affront to a military government that prides itself on having brought some stability to Thailand since its 2014 coup.

The kingdom has suffered a decade of sporadically violent political turmoil, driven by a power struggle between the militaryallied elite and populist forces loyal to the ousted democratically elected government.

Rounds of mass protests organized by the rival camps have been marred by street gunfights and grenade attacks. But the violence has not matched the coordinated nature of the latest bombings or targeted tourist towns.