Nation TV has issued a public apology for its attempt to recreate the Erawan Shrine "bomb moment" with a news team member wearing similar clothing playing the role of the suspected bomber caught on video by surveillance cameras.
A Twitter user @BoyOfHeaven tweeted around 6.10pm Thursday that a television programme had a person dressed like the suspect walking into the Erawan shrine, and that police had to get him out while people yelled at the man.
The tweet went viral, with strong criticism, and several online media used the story.
Nation TV’s evening news editor Boonlert Suprapavanich on Thursday night issued a public notice explaining that the channel wanted to “recreate the Ratchaprasong bomb incident” with filming at the actual location at the time close to the real incident.
Mr Boonlert said a reporter was to be the narrator and one of the team would dress like the “suspect”, as shown on the police footage, to make it seem real. Then the video would be edited for use in a news story.
He said while the scene was being shot, Thais and foreigners paying respect at the Erawan shrine became upset with the news team, so they had to call it off.
Mr Boonlert said that as the evening news editor he accepted responsibility for the mistake and apologised to the public.
Nation TV’s chairman of the board issued a statement of apology, expressing regret for the news team's actions in trying to recreate the incident without considering the impact this could have on the families of the victims and on the public. The company would consider punishment later.
The Nation TV channel has repeatedly run the statement since Thursday night with its news presenters reading it out on news programmes on Friday morning.