Thailand has said that a deadly bomb attack at a popular shrine in Bangkok was “unlikely” to be the work of international terrorists, but appealed for Interpol’s help in hunting a foreign man accused of being the prime suspect. The military government was initially reluctant in asking for outside help in the investigation of the blast at the Erawan shrine on Monday evening that killed 20 people and wounded scores.
However, it has now sent the international police organisation a sketch of the suspected bomber. “We sent a request for assistance,” Kissana Phathancharoen, deputy national police spokesperson, told Reuters news agency. There has been no claim of responsibility and police have not determined a motive for the worst ever bomb attack in the Thai capital. The attack left at least 11 foreigners dead, with Chinese, Singaporeans, Indonesians and a family from Malaysia among the victims.
Thai military spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said on Wednesday that the bombing was “unlikely to be linked to international terrorism”. He also said that Chinese tourists, who were among the victims, were not the “direct target”.
