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Published on October 23, 2007

Police and bomb disposal experts rushed to check on a threat at the Meechoke branch at 10am and found a suspicious box in a white plastic bag on the floor near the bank's entrance.

Bomb disposal experts sealed the area and used a high-pressure water hose to destroy the "bomb's circuit" for an hour and a half. They later found there was no explosive but a foam box sprayed with green paint, a kid's T-shirt and a black canvas bag.

Chiang Mai Police Commander, Colonel Bandop Sukhonthaman, said a police investigation believed the culprit might have used the "bomb" to extort money.

The bank manager, Sujinda Srisommai told police a man called at 9.45am and said he had planted a bomb and the manager must gather all of the bank's money, put it in a bag and place it in front of an ATM machine, or he would detonate the bomb.

Alerting the police about the threat, the bank manager then got another phone call from the man saying he was watching her and she must put the money in front of the bank, or he would detonate the bomb.

Bandop said police would summon all bank officials, look at security camera footage in the area, and trace the phone call, which should help them find the culprit.

The Nation, Chiang Mai