Turkish embassy sceptical bomb suspects are Turks

Turkish embassy sceptical bomb suspects are Turks

The Turkish Embassy in Bangkok on Thursday cast doubt on reports that its nationals were involved in the Aug 17 bombing of the Erawan shrine that killed 20 people.

A statement posted Thursday on the embassy's website says it has not received any official notification from Thai authorities concerning arrest warrants issued for at least three persons believed to be Turkish nationals.

"This embassy had requested clarification by sending a verbal note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ... on whether the suspect arrested on Aug 29 is a Turkish citizen and about the Turkish passports televised in the news," the statement read, noting that the Foreign Ministry replied only that the investigation was proceeding and the suspects' nationalities had not been confirmed.

It also quotes a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman noting that the embassy has stated that a suspect arrested with a fake Turkish passport is not Turkish.

"Our embassy in Bangkok stated that he is not a Turkish citizen. Also the Thai embassy in Ankara made it clear by stating to the press yesterday that there is no clear information on the issue," the statement read.

The Turkish connection has boosted a theory the suspects may be part of a group seeking to avenge Thailand's forced repatriation of ethnic Uighurs to China in July. Uighurs are related to Turks, and Turkey is home to a large Uighur community.

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