Thai police believe Bangkok bombing suspect is in Turkey

Six people, including a Pakistani and three women, have been detained by Malaysian and Thai authorities as part of their probe into Thailand’s deadliest bombing at a Brahma temple last month that claimed 20 lives.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the individuals were arrested a few days ago under the Security Offences – Special Measures Act (Sosma) 2012.

The warrant issued Saturday is the 12th over the unprecedented attack on the Thai capital, which targeted a Hindu shrine particularly popular with Chinese tourists who believe prayers there bring good fortune.

Police said the first suspect arrested in connection with the blast was found with dozens of forged Turkish passports.

Khalid, however, said the suspects would not be handed over to Thai police just yet.

Adem Karadag, 28, was arrested on August 29 in a Bangkok apartment where bomb-making material was found.

Khalid said the Pakistani suspect is male while one of the local suspects is female and the other is male. Thai media reported that the two women tenants and a guest were taken away for questioning.

Investigators said Tuesday they believe the bombing was a revenge attack carried out by human traffickers who smuggled Uighurs through Thailand. “Deporting those 109 people, the Thai government did in accordance with global law”.

However, he admitted that there were no information or evidences to link the attack of a Thai consulate in Turkey with the network responsible for the two bombings in Bangkok.

Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said intelligence reports indicated that Abu Dustar Abdulrahman, or “Izan”, a Chinese national, had covered up his escape route by changing his itinerary to Istanbul.

He said both Malaysian and Thai police were working closely on the investigation.

Speculation of militancy linked to Uighurs was fuelled by the use by several suspects of Chinese passports, at least one with Xinjiang as birthplace.

The Australian recalls the extreme case of a 25-year-old smuggler arrested by South African police in 2012 after scans revealed 220 polished diamonds in his digestive tract worth about $2.3 million.