THAILAND: Thai authorities suspects Thaksin backers to be behind the new years eve Bangkok blasts

Thai Police on Monday (January 1) searched for those responsible for New Year's Eve blasts in Bangkok which killed three people and wounded 38 others. After analysing samples gathered on the different sites around the city, Thai police were able to identify the material used for the attacks on Bangkok which caused authorities to cancel New Year festivities. "The materials used in all of the 8 bombs were made of ammonium nitrate fertilizer stuffed into 3 inch x 5 inch x 1 (7.6 x 12.7 x 2.5 centimeter) metal boxes together with nails and axle bearings. They were triggered by digital watches," Police General Achiravit Supanpasat told media on Monday (January 1). There have been no claims of responsibility and police said there were no immediate arrests and no apparent connection to violence in the Muslim far south where militants have set off similar series of bombs in towns during three years of separatist insurgency. "After we checked through all the police stations involved, there is still no suspect arrested," Supanpasat said. Meanwhile on Monday, the new military-appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said people who had lost power, including Thaksin supporters, might have been behind the eight bombs. "Briefs from various intelligence agencies, based on evidence available, show that they came from groups that have lost political powers," Surayud told a news conference. "These were not just the previous government, but include all those which have lost power in the past. We could not at this stage pinpoint which particular group was involved" Surayud added. The bloodless September 19 coup which ousted Thaksin Shinawatra, ended a long political crisis and Surayud declined to specify what evidence there was of a political connection to the bombs. Three Hungarians, two Britons, two Serbs and one American were wounded by the midnight bombs, officials said. None was thought to be in a serious condition. Some people, including foreigners, had not heard about the cancellation and headed for the main celebration in the heart of Bangkok's shopping district. Police sirens joined the sound of far fewer fireworks being let off than usual to mark the arrival of the new year. Despite the authorities cancelling every type of celebrations after the blasts, a small number of Buddhist merit makers were seen gathered at the Royal ground in front of the temple of Emerald Buddha on Monday morning (January 1) for the traditional almsgiving ceremony for Buddhist which usually draws big crowds during New Years prayers. The crowd was just a fraction of the usual numbers which gather each year for this occasion but Bangkok Metropolitan Administration called off the ceremony. Thailand grappled with the mystery of who ruined the New Year celebrations and residents of Bangkok are becoming wary of looming danger in the city. Despite news that the Buddhist religious ceremony would be cancelled after the attacks, a few hundred worshippers still made their way to the ceremony grounds for the New Year blessing. "I Think we have to be more careful from now, they placed bombs throughout Bangkok, it's quite scary," a young woman said.

ITN Source | January 1, 2007

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