Foreign terrorist groups’ role unlikely in temple blast: Thai

Thailand’s national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung gave a detailed profile of the mysterious assailants, saying there were more than 10 involved and they carefully planned the attack.

Police also noted that the suspect had material wrapped around both of his forearms, which they say could indicate he had previously sustained some kind of injury.

“We believe there must be people helping him, Thai people“, he added, appearing to rule out the action of a lone wolf attacker.

Officials described the suspect as a “foreign man” Wednesday, but police said they’re not sure he is from another country, the AP reported.

Suchart said he recalled picking the suspect up from a auto fix shop near Soi Wat Duang Khae Alley, around three kilometers west of the shrine, according to police officers at the Pathumwan Police Station.

Little is known about the suspect behind the blast or a motive.

Two days after a deadly explosion, the Erawan shrine in Bangkok reopened to the public today.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said he would not be attending due to escalating security concerns. The deadliest, in 2010, killed more than 90 people in two months and was centered on the same intersection where Monday’s bomb went off. But none of those attacks included a bomb that seemed meant to produce mass casualties.

Left with just guesswork, Thai media outlets have cast suspicion on militants from China’s Uighur minority, a group that faces cultural and religious repression in its homeland.

They are offering a $28,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

The apparent deliberate targeting of tourists and the scale of the explosion had never been seen in the Thai capital and, with no-one claiming responsibility, experts are perplexed over who to blame.

The two possible accomplices are seen standing in front of the man, said police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri. The government says the bombing was created to the wreck Thailand’s economy, as the shrine is particularly popular with tourists. “It is likely that many people are involved and had some sort of backing”.

The attack left at least 11 foreigners dead, with Chinese, Singaporeans, Indonesians and a family from Malaysia among the victims.

Thailand’s military leadership has declared the attack was unlikely to be the work of foreign militants and that it was not targeted at China, despite the shrine being popular with Chinese tourists.

Thailand has deep political rivalries, besides the decades-long Muslim insurgency.