The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court has issued warrants for the arrest of seven people for alleged involvement in a grenade attack in February that killed three people near an anti-government protest site in Bangkok.
Blood and shoes mark the street shortly after two children and a samlor driver were killed by a grenade fired at a nearby political rally on Feb 23. (Photos by Thiti Wannamontha)
Three people were killed and 21 others injured in the attack which occurred near the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protest site.
Two of the victims were a six-year-old girl, Pajarakorn Yos-ubol, and her younger brother, Koravit.
Named in the warrants are Taweechai Wichakham, 39, Sathorn Phiphuannok, 49, Suksan Lomwong, 32, Somsri Marit, 40, Chatchawal Prabbamrung, 45, Kannikar Wongtua, 38, and Wichian Sukpirom, 33.
Relatives mourned the deaths of six-year-old Pajarakorn (cake) and four-year-old Koravit (Ken).
Pol Gen Somyos said the suspects are also accused of involvement in other grenade attacks against PDRC demonstrators during the group's six-month street protest.
The warrants followed the July 5 arrest of Narongsak Plaiaram, 31, at an apartment in Nonthaburi's Muang district.
The suspect is accused of being behind M-79 grenade attacks during anti-government protests.
According to police, Mr Narongsak admitted to committing three M-79 grenade attacks in Bangkok.
The first took place on March 7 when he allegedly fired a grenade at the Shinawatra Tower 3 Building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
In the second attack on March 27, he allegedly fired a grenade at the National Anti-Corruption Commission offices in Nonthaburi, and on March 29, he is said to have fired on PDRC protesters on Sawankhalok Road near Dusit's Saowanee Intersection.
Mr Narongsak was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the military court, and was among hundreds of people summoned to report to the National Council for Peace and Order but who failed to do so.
Pol Gen Somyos said police have been able to determine who engineered the attacks and are collecting evidence to seek arrest warrants for them.
At least 46 cases are linked to the PDRC rallies, he said.
Last week, police arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting Sutin Tharatin, a leader of the People’s Army and Energy Reform Network, during a demonstration against advance voting in the Bang Na area in January.
Surakit Chaimongkol, 36, the suspected gunman, was caught at his house in Samut Prakan's Phra Pradaeng district on charges of colluding to murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and carrying weapons in public.
An 11mm-pistol was seized from his house.
Evidence taken from the crime scene and CCTV footage led to Mr Surakit's arrest, police said.