Thais downplay global terror links to bomb

Thai authorities have said it’s unlikely international terror groups were behind a deadly Bangkok shrine bombing, as the suspected foreign bomber remained at large and two possible accomplices were all but ruled out.

Police on Thursday also said the attack on a Hindu shrine in a tourist zone of the capital was carefully planned by a network of more than 10 people.

But in a day marked by conflicting and contradictory information, authorities appealed for Interpol help in tracking down a young “foreign” man suspected of planting the device.

Monday’s blast killed 20 people, mostly Asian visitors, leaving residents and even the military junta leader fearing more attacks, while sending shockwaves through the nation’s vital tourism sector.

The apparent deliberate targeting of tourists and the scale of the explosion had never been seen in the Thai capital and, with no one claiming responsibility, experts were perplexed over who to blame.

Police also ended some lines of inquiry, virtually ruling out two men seen on CCTV at the shrine and viewed as the bomber’s accomplices.

A Thai man “met police and was released”, national police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said late on Thursday, adding a second man from China seen in the same footage had already left the country – but neither were “likely involved”.

While investigators say they are keeping open minds as to the motive, Prawut raised the possibility of a “private disagreement” spurring the bombing.

Business and personal conflicts often spill into violence in Thailand, but nothing on the scale of Monday’s bomb.

“I can’t tell everything,” Prawut added cryptically when pressed on the nature of the dispute.

Thai police said they still did not know if the man suspected of planting the bomb at the shrine minutes before the blast was in the country or not.

Adding to the sense of confusion and fear, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said he would not attend a memorial service for the victims at the shrine on Friday because of growing fears for his life.

“I am not afraid of dying, but I am afraid others may die with me as my risk is increasing day by day,” he said at an official function in Bangkok.

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bangkok bombing thailand