News / Asia

Thailand Searches For More Suspects in Bangkok Blasts

Thai police officers escort  Iranian suspect Mohammad Khazaei (C) at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok February 16, 2012.
Thai police officers escort Iranian suspect Mohammad Khazaei (C) at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok February 16, 2012.
TEXT SIZE - +

Authorities in Thailand are looking for at least two more suspects in connection with this week's explosions in Bangkok that police say were part of an assassination plot targeting Israeli diplomats.

Two Iranian men were arrested immediately after Tuesday's bomb blasts in the Thai capital of Bangkok, which left four civilians injured.  A third suspect was arrested Wednesday in Malaysia at the international airport in Kuala Lumpur.  

Police say one of the two additional suspects being sought was seen on closed circuit camera footage leaving the same house where the first of Tuesday's blasts occurred.

Thai police chief Prewpan Dhamapon has said the explosives in the Bangkok blasts were similar to those used in recent car bombing attacks targeting Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. Four people were injured in the New Delhi attack, while the car bomb in Tbilisi was defused.

Israel has accused Iran of being directly involved in the triple blasts. Tehran has rejected the charge, accusing Israel of attempting to harm the "friendly and historic" relations between it and Thailand.  

Thailand has been on alert for a possible terrorist attack since a Lebanese man with alleged links to Hezbollah was arrested in Bangkok last month.

The first of Tuesday's blasts went off at a house rented by one of the suspects in the center of the city. Two more explosions followed in the streets outside, blowing the legs off one of the suspects. The second suspect was arrested at Bangkok's international airport.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

You May Like

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison

Former chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo delivers petition to White House with more than 370,000 signatures, demanding facility be closed down immediately More

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

India, China Pledge to Overcome Border Tensions

Indian prime minister and Chinese premier attempt to move past tense standoff in the Himalayas during Delhi talks More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics

The United States will account for a third of new oil supplies over the next five years, and will become energy self-sufficient in 20 years, according to a new report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Although U.S. oil imports from Arab Gulf countries increased last year, analysts predict the U.S. will lose its dependence on Middle East imports, which is expected to have a huge impact on international relations and the balance of power. VOA's Henry Ridgewell reports.