A man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly setting fire to a Tesco Lotus store in Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of seven provinces hit by bombings and arson attacks this week.
The 32-year-old native of San Kamphaeng district in Chiang Mai is a worker on an offshore oil platform off Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was apprehended in the southern province, according to several police sources. He was taken to the 41st Army Circle inside Vajiravudh camp in Muang district.
Pol Maj Gen Wanchai Ekkapornpitch, the Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief, confirmed the arrest and identified the suspect as Sakarin Karuehas, the Daily News online reported. Authorities had sufficient evidence to charge him but he denied all allegations, he added.
Mr Sakarin was the second person to be apprehended in the wake of the violent incidents that killed four people and injured 37 on Thursday and Friday. Political activist Prapas Rojanapitak was arrested in Trang earlier for questioning in connection with arson attacks in the southern province.
Pol Lt Gen Tesa Siriwatho, chief of Provincial Police Region 8, flew from the Region 8 base in Surat Thani to join police and army officers to interrogate him.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called for patience from the public following the arrests until the investigations are completed.
"Authorities are in the process of carrying out interrogations. They are looking at the evidence. So please be patient and don't rush to a conclusion and put pressure on the government," Gen Prayut said.