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The incident, which erupted inside the Government House compound, killed one person and injured 26 others.

Thiradej said the bomb attack might have been intended to boost turnout at the PAD protest site, to scare protesters out of Government House, or was the result of internal conflict in the PAD.

"We will investigate further in a bid to determine what is behind the incident," Thiradej said.

PAD protesters have camped out at Government House since late August, despite a series of violent incidents in and around the site.

"The situation is worrying. The bomb attack happened despite close supervision by the police," Thiradej said.

Police said the bomb, which exploded yesterday, might have been launched from the Council of Civil Service Office building about 50 metres away.

The bomb, initially thought to be a lone 40mm explosives round, landed at around 3.25am about 15 metres from a stage where PAD announcers were reading news reports.

When it exploded, shrapnel from the bomb fatally hit Jenkij Kladsakhon, and injured several other PAD supporters. Jenkij was taken to Ramathibodi Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

According to the hospital, what looked like bomb shrapnel cut Jenkij's main artery in the neck, ruptured many of his air sacs and bruised his lungs.

"We will send the small metal pieces found in his wounds to experts for examination," said Dr Wicharn Piawnim, head of the hospital's forensic laboratory.

Jenkij left behind a wife, an 11-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

Jenkij's wife, Pinyacha Sukputanont, praised her husband for serving the country.

"I am proud of you," Pinyacha said.

PAD has occupied the Government House compound since late August and has been demanding the ouster of the Somchai government.

Many PAD supporters accompanied Pinchaya when she claimed her husband's body from the Ramathibodi Hospital.

They are now pressuring the police to find the culprits behind the bomb attack.

Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, yesterday denounced the latest bombing attack, calling it an "embarrassing act by cowards".

He said the victims were merely sleeping or listening to speeches from protest leaders.

"If they [the assailants] are good enough, they should go to the deep South to show their skills there," he said.

Maj-General Khattiya Sawatdiphol, an Army specialist, repeated his warning about more bombing attacks at the PAD protest site.

"From now on, they will fire every night. The PAD should unconditionally return Government House to the government so that the garden party can be organised," he said, referring to the reception for senior officials and foreign diplomatic corps ahead of His Majesty the King's birthday on December 5.