Ex-girlfriend a suspect in fatal blast

Police are trying to determine if the ex-girlfriend of a man, killed in an explosion in Bangkok yesterday morning, was behind the fatal attack.

The victim, Wanchai Noomdee, broke up with his girlfriend a few months ago after he met a new lady at the Ua Arthon Lat Krabang 2 housing project.

He was threatened when he sought to break up. Then, on February 15, he was beaten up on his way to work.

Jarakhe Noi police chief Colonel Paponpat Tangjitjarupat said he would summon the victim's ex-girlfriend as well as his new lady's former partner for questioning.

Wanchai's new girlfriend said the couple noticed a plastic bag near a rear wheel of their pickup while they were preparing to leave the housing estate for work. The bag appeared to contain something, which was later thought to be a hand grenade.

"The safety pin may have already been removed when the bag was put there," a policeman said.

Seconds after Wanchai removed the bag, a blast erupted causing him critical injuries.

Wanchai, an employee of King Power, died on his way to hospital.

The police investigation has not yet ruled out Wanchai's quarrel with neighbours over parking spaces as a possible motive, but Paponpat said the parking-space quarrel seemed too trivial to spur a murder.