A team of 40 senior police investigators was set up yesterday to specifically handle cases of bomb attacks.
Led by deputy police chief General Phanuphong Singhara na Ayutthaya, the team comprises ten other police generals and 29 police officers known for being skilled detectives.
Acting police chief Patheep Tanprasert declined to comment on media speculation that officers from the Army cadet academy's Class 20, who are allied to former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra, had been behind the attacks.
General Jongsak Phanichkul, a Class-20 graduate and now a member of the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party, accused the police of giving the wrong impression to the media. He asked the police to identify these Class-20 graduates, adding: "If you can't, I consider this an act of spreading bad rumours.
"But if any Class-20 graduates are actually involved in these attacks, I consider it their personal affair. Though I personally do not agree with using violence," he added.
Meanwhile, police said the bomb attack on the General Prem Tinsula-nonda Statesman Foundation building on Tuesday night was carried out in a manner similar to the attack on the Army-run Channel 5 last Saturday. In both incidents, the attackers were on a motorcycle wearing similar types of helmets, Samsen police chief Chayut Marayart said.
Security-camera footage showed two men on a motorcycle meant for women riders. They stopped near the building and the man riding pillion threw a bomb before they fled toward the Wa Sukree Pier, Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangpraphai, another senior investigator, said.
Meanwhile, security at the foundation, which was set up by Privy Council President Prem, has been tightened. Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said this bombing was a symbolic attack against Prem, while a close aide to the councillor, General Phong-thep Thespratheep, said the attack was meant to show the government was not in control of the turmoil. He dismissed rumours that Prem was being treated for gunshot wounds sustained in an assassination attempt, adding the statesman was in a good shape and healthy.
Jatuporn Promphan denied that the red-shirt movement was behind the attack on the Foundation's building.
