Angkana killed by bomb she carried, say police

Pol Maj General Surapol Thuanthong, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said, "The autopsy report showed Angkana's left ribs were broken. The injuries could have resulted from holding a bomb with her underarms or in her bag. They were too severe to be caused by police weapons," he said.

AVM Vichan Piewnum of Ramathibodhi Hospital said forensic examination of the 25-year-old Angkana (also known as Bow), revealed a large severe wound by her left breast, with bleeding in her lungs, heart and stomach. She had died while being transferred to the hospital.

 " We deeply regret we could not save her life," he said, adding doctors suspected the device that killed her was of a hard material with hot particles.

The fatal injury was not caused by a tear gas canister, he said, because the wound was deep and large.

Meanwhile, the death of 50 year old man in the demonstrations is still a mystery. Vichan said forensic examination is continuing and hard material found in his wound is being tested at the Royal Thai Police Office.

 Vichan said people who suffered amputated legs and arms could have been wounded by tear gas canisters bursting close to them.

Surapol said an investigation committee would be appointed to decide whether the protesters were injured by weapons they were carrying. He believed the injuries were too severe to have been caused by the weapons police officers used at the scene.

"(The injuries) occurred mostly to leg areas. It could be speculated they were caused by carried weapons, some in trouser pockets, some in bags," he said.

Police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan said a non-partisan investigator should examine the bomb allegations.

"I believe police used only tear gas and shields," he said. "Tear gas cannot break legs and we need a neutral party to prove this.".

Chiang Mai University political scientist Thanet Charoenmuang said a neutral party must investigate the issue.

Foreign countries also use tear gas to control riot. But the use of bombs must be investigated of the source and objectives while it could be used by a third party, he said.