Metropolitan police yesterday found an M16 rifle hidden in a room at the SC Park Hotel, where the red shirt leaders stayed.
Pol Lt General Sathan Chayanont and 40 other metropolitan police officers examined the third floor of the hotel. They came with a Criminal Court warrant.
In the ceiling over a toilet in room 369 they found the rifle with two full magazines of bullets.
Police Col Arnat Kletmanee said red-shirt leaders stayed at the hotel during the big rally at Rajprasong. Some 13 rooms on one floor were booked by the same person.
It is not known if the M16 was one of two taken from troops at Din Daeng.
A 35-year-old Thai man was arrested on Friday for stealing one of two M16 rifles taken from soldiers at Din Daeng Triangle on May 14, deputy city police chief Pol Maj Gen Sumet Reungsawat told a press conference yesterday.
Khamlah Chomcheun, |identified by media photos taken on the day, reportedly told police he ditched the gun, marked "Bor Kor 132" on its handle, in Klong Saen Saeb near the Century Hotel.
But police couldn't find the gun in the canal and hotel security guards said they saw a chubby man dive in and take it away.
The other M16, marked |"Bor Kor 252" on its handle, was found hidden in Wat Pathum Wanaram after the red-shirt rally ended.
But the first gun that Khamlah reportedly took remained missing.
Police are now looking for three more people photographed by the media.