Three guards of a pro-democracy protest group have been arrested for allegedly throwing ping-pong bombs at crowd control police during a protest at Sam Yan on Jan 17.
The three suspects were identified as Pornchai Prakaphuang, 23, Natthasut Siriat, 19 and Weerayut Samritruangsri, 29. They were arrested and charged with physically assaulting on-duty officers, throwing bombs, having weapons in a public place without good reason and possessing explosives without a permit.
The three were apprehended, while the clothes they wore on Jan 17 and two motorcycles they used while throwing the bombs were confiscated, police said.
Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra said yesterday that the explosions at Sam Yan injured five people, including three police officers.
The three suspects told police after they were arrested that they were members of a pro-democracy group of vocational college students. They admitted to throwing ping-pong bombs, which they had made themselves, at police to obstruct police operations at the protest site, said Pol Lt Gen Phukphong.
The ping-pong bombs used by the suspects were similar to those used at three other protest sites, including the the Siam Commercial Bank head office on Ratchayothin Road, the old Government Lottery Office head office and the 14 October 73 Memorial. Both are located on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue.
Meanwhile, Mongkhol Santimethakul, an anti-government protest leader, was arrested in Lop Buri for alleged perjury. He was sent to Muang Samut Prakan police station for questioning.
On Jan 17, Mr Mongkhol, a member of a Free Guards group, reported he had been kidnapped by state security personnel.
Police checked CCTV footage and found that Mr Mongkhol lied. He was then summoned but did not show up.
Muang Samut Prakan police said Mr Mongkhol was arrested while visiting relatives or acquaintances in Lop Buri. Police sought to deny him bail due to fears he would abscond.
He was also wanted for deserting from the army in December 2019 and will be detained at the police station before appearing at a court martial in Bangkok later, police said.