Thai police say Bangkok bombing suspect fled to Turkey

However, Prawut said yesterday that the suspect had actually left Dhaka for New Delhi before heading for Abu Dhabi and then to Turkey.

National police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP the suspect was a Uighur according to his passport, as authorities released a photo of the moustached and short-haired suspect, with a caption that identified him as Abudusataer Abudureheman, or “Ishan”, of “Uighur” ethnicity and “Chinese” nationality. The Bangladeshi government reportedly provided information on his movements after he departed their country.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the Erawan Shrine blast on August . 17 that also injured over 100 people.

On Monday, police said a key suspect in the bombing traveled with a Chinese passport and had fled to Turkey.

Khalid also said Malaysian police were unsure if the main suspect was in Malaysia.

Transit passengers are not supposed to undergo any immigration check and, moreover, there was no alert about the accused either through Interpol or the Thai authorities, the sources said, explaining why he could not be apprehended. “We feel these three (people) can assist us in the investigation”, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted saying by The Star newspaper’s website.

Analysts say Thailand is keen to avoid naming Uighurs for economic and diplomatic reasons.

The use of Chinese passports, at least one of which stated Xinjiang as a birthplace, adds fuel to speculation the bombing may have been revenge by sympathizers of Turkic-speaking Uighur Muslims. The transfer took place amid tight security.

“He [his client] has insisted that he had nothing to do with the materials found in the apartment”, said Kanphai.

Malaysian police confirmed the arrests, which were made several days ago, but did not make the details public.

“He has said he is a Turkish”.

Doctors said that the woman, who now faces up to three years in prison, risked her health because the precious stone could have damaged her large intestine.

Some reports suggest that Abdulrahman is Izan.

Many Uighurs have fled to Thailand in the hope of travelling on to Turkey, which has strong cultural links to the group and has sheltered them for decades.

The investigation has gained momentum since one in every of two detainees police discuss with as Yusufu Mieraili, implicated a person referred to as Izan, and admitted delivering a backpack to the yellow-shirted fugitive assumed to be the bomber.