BANGKOK, Feb 15 – A senior Thai security official said on Wednesday that the bomb-making materials used in three Bangkok blasts bear the hallmark of similar attacks targeting Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.
On Monday, an Israeli diplomat’s wife and driver were wounded in New Delhi when a bomb attached to their minivan exploded, and another device was defused on an Israeli embassy car in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Speaking at a news conference after a one-hour meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), Secretary-General Wichean Potephosree said preliminary investigation indicated that the blasts were targeting individuals. Although the investigation found no link with terrorism, further investigation is needed.
Gen Wichean said the bombs being assembled here using magnets resembled the bombs targeting Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.
Despite Israel accusing Iran of being behind the violence, the NSC chief said more investigation will be carried out to verify such a claim.
Iran denied responsibility for the India attack and the foiled bombing of an Israeli diplomatic mission car in the Georgian capital on Monday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat said more evidence is being collected to seek an arrest warrant against the third suspect believed to have fled the country, possibly into Malaysia.
The three suspects, all men, were reported to have fled a rented house in Soi Pridi Banomyong 31 off Sukhumvit 71 Road where the first bomb exploded, blowing the roof off the building.
An Iranian national identified as Saeid Moradi was seriously injured by his own hand grenade when confronted by police officers in a squad car. He hurled the grenade at them, but it bounced back from the vehicle. The explosion tore off his legs.
The second bombing suspect, an Iranian identified as Mohammad Hazaei, was taken into custody at Suvarnabhumi Airport while attempting to board a plane to Malaysia, and has been transferred by police for further questioning at Khlong Tan station.
