Bangkok bombing suspects arrested abroad
text size

Bangkok bombing suspects arrested abroad

Worshippers pay their respects at the Erawan Shrine on Nov 9, 2015, the anniversary of its founding, nearly three months after it was bombed. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Worshippers pay their respects at the Erawan Shrine on Nov 9, 2015, the anniversary of its founding, nearly three months after it was bombed. (Bangkok Post file photo)

A number of suspects in the Erawan shrine and Sathon pier bombings on Aug 17 and 18 have been arrested abroad and authorities are seeking their extradition, deputy national police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said on Thursday.

Pol Gen Srivara said the arrested suspects, Thai and foreign, were being detained in a foreign country. He would not name it.

The Office of the Attorney-General and the Foreign Affairs Ministry were coordinating with authorities of the country concerned and arranging for the suspects' extradition to face legal proceedings in Thailand.

Details of the suspects could not be disclosed as the case concerns national security and international relations, Pol Gen Srivara said.

Post Today and other Thai media later reported, without naming sources, that the arrested suspects were Thai woman Wanna Suansan, alias Maisaloh, and her Turkish husband Emrah Davutoglu.

Police investigators earlier learned Ms Wanna had rented a room at Maimuna Garden Home apartments  in Min Buri where bomb-making materials were discovered.

Her husband, Emrah Davutoglu, was found to have received money transferred from another key suspect, Abdul Tawab, a 40-year-old Pakistani national. The money was linked to funding for the bombing, investigators say.

A previous police probe found Ms Wanna, her husband and their infant left Thailand for Turkey, via Phuket, on July 1.

Following the Erawan bomb blast on Aug 17 that killed 20 people and injured 130 others and the subsequent blast at Sathon pier on Aug 18, police issued warrants for the arrest of at least 10 suspects, both Thai and foreign nationals.

Only two of them were arrested, both in Thailand. Adem Karadag, alias Bilal Mohammad, and Yusufu Mieraili were arraigned in the Bangkok Military Court on Nov 24.   

They face 10 charges including premeditated murder, causing death and severe injuries by explosive devices, causing damage to property, possession of explosives without permission, carrying bombs into public places, colluding in carrying out bomb attacks, possession of war materials without permission, and entering the country illegally.

The court set the starting date of their trial for Feb 16, 2016.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)