One handed over to DSI; second caught trying to hide explosives in shop
Two men were arrested yesterday in connection with the recent explosions in Bangkok and one was handed over to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) last night.
Police summoned Seksan Worapiticharoenkul yesterday morning for questioning over earlier allegations of carrying explosives, and was arrested after police found that he was wanted by the DSI.
The DSI did not comment about the arrest at press time, and was expected to question the man about the bombings.
Also yesterday police arrested a former Army conscript for allegedly being involved in the two bomb-related incidents, including the explosion of a grenade near duty-free giant King Power's office last week.
Sorrathian Singkanya, 23, is also implicated in a number of crimes during the red-shirt protests in May, including the possession of explosives, ordering the torching of Centre One mall near Victory Monument as well as smashing cash machines and robbing money, police chief Pol Lt-General Santhan Chayanont said.
He was arrested yesterday while trying to hide explosives in a shoe shop near Victory Monument. Police later found him with five "giant firecrackers", a hand grenade and two sets of homemade bombs.
The Nong Khai native has been charged with violating the emergency decree and planning criminal action against orderliness and public safety, in addition to the unauthorised possession of explosives and transporting them in public.
At a press conference, Santhan said Sorrathin had admitted to being trained to assemble and plant explosives by black-shirted red guards in the run-up to the protests in Bangkok. The suspect later said he was only serving food and water to the demonstrators, and had never acted as a guard.
Similar explosives used
The Chinese-made Type 82-2 hand grenade in his possession is the same model used in the attack near King Power office in Soi Rangbam.
The same model was also used in an attack near the home of Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukkakkanont earlier this year, the officer said.
Meanwhile, the police are also investigating to see if Sorrathian was involved in two bomb attacks in May - one near the home of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda and another near Army-run Channel 5 - because security footage shows attackers in black helmets riding a red motorcycle like the one used by Sorrathian.
Police are also looking for a man called Suwit, aka Bang Wai, who was named by Sorrathian as the red-shirt leader who coordinated three bomb attacks during the May protests.
The Criminal Court jas issued an arrest warrant for Suwit.
Meanwhile, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation is planning to distribute 10,000 CDs explaining the authorities' operations during the recent political unrest.