Police Say Two Other Men Seen in Bangkok Bomb Footage Also Suspects

Thai police said Wednesday the prime suspect in the bombing of a Bangkok religious shrine in which 20 people died was overheard speaking a foreign language other than English.

A Thai man wanted for questioning after he was seen on security camera footage “met police and was released”, national police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told reporters on Thursday, adding a second man from China in the same shot had already left the country – but neither were “likely involved”.

The seemingly contrary reports follow the unprecedented destruction at the Erawan Shrine on Monday in which 20 people were killed and 123 injured after a six pound pipe bomb detonated at the busy shrine at around 7pm (local time).

The explosion occurred on Monday evening as worshippers, tourists and people returning from their offices were at the shrine and nearby.

On Thursday, Thai police started investigating areas of interest around the capital.

Police have said they are looking two other men also seen on security footage at the Erawan shrine before the blast who may have been his accomplices.

Officials did say the bombing did not match the tactics of Muslim insurgents in the south, nor was it similar to attacks by the “Red Shirt” supporters of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand’s government said Thursday that the Bangkok bombing earlier this week was “unlikely” to have been perpetrated by an global terrorist organization.

Lt Gen Prayuth has called the attack “the worst incident that has ever happened in Thailand” and vowed to track down those responsible.

Two men who were seen on CCTV minutes before the Bangkok bomb blast have handed themselves in and been cleared by Thai police.

Thailand’s police chief has said at least ten people are thought to have played apart in the explosion, which has been linked to anti-government protestors.

Nationals from Hong Kong, the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore were also among the foreigners killed in the attack.

At a news conference, Prawut expressed uncertainty about the man’s origin, saying the suspect “looks like a foreigner” but “might have been in a disguise and wearing a fake nose” to hide his identity.

Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said on Wednesday that the attacker did not carry out Monday’s attack by himself, without elaborating further. Two other victims remained unidentified Wednesday, according to the Bangkok Emergency Medical Services.

A 1 million baht (£18,000) reward has also been offered for help leading to his arrest.

The Brahma temple, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok, was reopened today for worshippers and tourists two days after the blasts.