Nine investigation teams were yesterday set up to look into each of the nine bombings independently. The new teams comprise mostly those involved in the previous investigation that apprehended 19 suspects who were later released as a result of insufficient evidence.

Another special team has been established to probe the grenade attack at The Daily News newspaper compound.

Seripisut said he had not yet decided whether to filter out some investigators - out of a total of 60-70 officers - from the newly-established teams.

After a meeting yesterday, the police general strongly criticised the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) and its commander Pol Lt General Wiroj Jantharangsee for having played "idle roles" and letting executive officers at command level do their jobs for them.

Asked to describe the entire police investigation earlier, Seripisut said no suspects have been positively identified.

Seripisut said he did not regard Ramkhamhaeng Univer-sity dropout Thawalsak Paenae, a man wanted for his insurgent activities in the South by Yala police and who was seen in video footage collected from surveillance cameras at Seacon Square, as a suspect, adding: "There is no evidence so far indicating that he took part in the bomb attack there at this stage."

The acting police chief described the previous investigation efforts as "mismanaged" and "disorganised". He said outside pressure from the military and the public, as well as a timeline set by police superiors that forced police to "produce suspects" as a major factor in the police rushing to apprehend the 19 suspects.

"In such high-profile cases involving national security, you only lose face if you invite military officers in for questioning without getting the evidence ready," he added.

Asked by reporters to rate MPB chief Wiroj, Seripisut said: "You the press should do it yourself. Tell me what the MPB commander has done in the past one month after the bombings. How can I be satisfied with his inactive role?"