A grenade was fired at the house of public health permanent secretary Narong Sahametha late on Sunday night in what police believe was an attack linked to his support for the anti-government protest movement.
The home of public health permanent secretary Narong Sahametha was hit by a grenade late on Sunday, leaving a hole in his wall and damaging a car. (Photo by Tawatchai Khumkumnerd)
The grenade hit a concrete wall at his house in Soi Saket 4 on Chaeng Watthana 14 Road in Laksi district, leaving a 10cm-diameter hole and damaging a nearby car.
Dr Narong's sister Amorn told investigators she heard the blast about 11pm on Sunday, followed by the loud noise of a motorcycle speeding away.
She then discovered the grenade had blown a hole in the wall of the house and alerted the police.
Dr Narong was not home during the attack because he was away on a work trip, Ms Amorn said.
The permanent secretary for public health is the only active senior civil servant who openly supports the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
He controversially gave a warm welcome to PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, hugging him enthusiastically, when the protest leader came to "visit" officials at the Public Health Ministry recently.
A police team yesterday examined the scene of the blast.
Bomb squad commander Pol Col Kamthorn Uicharoen said officers found shrapnel from a 40mm grenade fired from an M79 grenade launcher at the scene.
The grenade was fired straight into the wall from 50 metres away, he said, suggesting the attacker could have launched it from the entrance to the soi.
Metropolitan Police Division 2 commander Suranit Phrombutr said yesterday national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew was giving the case serious attention.
Pol Gen Adul has also assigned his deputy Ek Angsananond and his assistant Winai Thongsong to work on the case.
Pol Maj Gen Suranit added that Dr Narong's house is easy to see from the road, arguing the attacker could have easily chosen to fire at the house, rather than the wall. Despite this, he said police will boost patrols around the area.
Deputy permanent secretary for public health Wachira Pengchan and other officers yesterday visited the house to see the damage. He said officials were concerned about Dr Narong's safety.
Dr Wachira said he had a phone conversation with Dr Narong, who said he would not allow the incident to intimidate him.
Dr Narong said he was on duty to receive HRH Princess Chulabhorn during the deployment of medical mobile units in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district yesterday.