BANGKOK, Jan 27 – Metropolitan Police chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang has ordered a thorough investigation and asked the issue not yet be concluded as a media threat.
Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit said regarding the shooting of ASTV cars parked in front of the ASTV headquarters on Phra Arthit Road on Saturday that footage from surveillance cameras found that the gunman shot from the other side of the road. However, two security guards said they did not know the cars had been shot when the incident took place.
The shooting occurred at 3.26 am and police were informed about the shooting at 9 am. ASTV executives will be question if there is any conflicts with anyone, he said.
The metropolitan police chief said he did not want the shooting to be prejudged as media threat or the action of officials linked to a soldier protest at the ASTV news office earlier this month.
Some 30 soldiers protested at the ASTV-Manager office on Phra Arthit Road on January 12, demanding the media outlet apologise for its criticism of Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said that the party called for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Police Chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew to find out and arrest the gunman shooting at ASTV news cars because the action is outrageous and considered as a threat to media.
He said as closed circuit television cameras can capture the image of suspects, it will be not difficult for the police to find the culprit.
The government has to maintain safety for the public however, and Chavanond said that there have been media threats and that the government did not seem to take them seriously. He expressed suspicion that if the gunman cannot be arrest, a person in the government may be involved in the incident.
