Bangkok Police Investigate Grenades In Pratunam

[webfact]

Police investigate grenades in Pratunam

By The Nation on Sunday

A hand grenade exploded late on Friday night near the roof of the famous Khao Mun Gai Ton Pratunam chicken rice shop a block from the Rajprasong intersection, while another grenade fired in the same attack was a dud. No casualties were reported.

BANGKOK: -- The two grenades were lobbed onto the roof of a Krung Thai Bank branch near the shop at around 11.30pm. After the blast, police evacuated residents from the shop-house before the bomb squad detonated it inside car tyres.

Police noted the names of all residents in nearby buildings as the grenades were believed to have been thrown down from one of the buildings.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met yesterday with National Police chief General Wichean Potephosree after an explosion at a commercial bank in the Pratunam area of Bangkok.

Police initially theorised that the attack stemmed from a personal conflict as the area is frequently used by teenagers as a meeting place.

Police said they plan to invite witnesses for questioning, which could lead to the arrest of the suspected bomber, while they also plan to examine surveillance cameras installed in the area, which might give them some clues.

Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation said cash was being distributed by people planning and carrying out the attacks via couriers - a new tactic to avoid cash transactions being detected through bank accounts or cash machines.

Couriers were sneaking through borders with a neighbouring country, said DSI director-general Tharit Phengdit, who did not give details about sources of the money used in funding the terror attacks.

Those carrying out the attacks were linked to "the men in black" who were believed involved in many incidents of violence during the red-shirt protests in April and May.

"They have now gone underground after they are no longer accepted as being part of the [red shirts'] political movement," he said.

Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said the people behind the attacks were in three groups: those with ill-intent against the government; "psychos" who enjoyed pranks such as bomb scares; and opportunists who exploited political instability to benefit themselves. He did not cite any sources of reference to back up his remarks.

-- The Nation 2010-10-03

[beammeup]

More men in black! Reminds me of that Stranglers song. Any parcially eaten bodies left behind, or UFO sightings?

[asiawatcher]

Such a colourful story of intrigue. And the Police will "invite" witnesses???? And it has possible teenage conflict links? What - kids with M79 grenades? Who writes this garbage? They have the journalistic skills of the Walt Disney company.

[cougar52]

Hurry DSI, gather many personal then go to the airport there may be some of the 200 "men in black" still there, then you can be a hero to arrest them and put an end to this bull sh*t.

Those carrying out the attacks were linked to "the men in black" who were believed involved in many incidents of violence during the red-shirt protests in April and May.

[Buchholz]

Such a colourful story of intrigue. And the Police will "invite" witnesses???? And it has possible teenage conflict links? What - kids with M79 grenades?

Not M79 grenades. This time they are Russian RGD-5 grenades.

When buying them on the black market, the sellers don't check ID's and so, yes, teenagers can also purchase them.

Two posts from the thread running in General Forum

Police say grenade-incident due to personal conflict; Explosive not used by Thai military

BANGKOK, Oct 2 -- Police, noting that the Russian-design RDG-5 grenades not used by the Thai military, said that Saturday’s midnight bombing in Pratunam stems from a personal conflict, probably among teenagers.

Police and bomb disposal experts rushed to the verandah of the shophouse building near Pratunam intersection. The ground floor is a restaurant.

The verandah was slightly damaged after one grenade exploded in mid-air while the other, found on the verandah of the Krung Thai Bank, had its pin removed but failed to explode.

Bomb disposal experts later destroyed the dud bomb at the scene of the incident.

Acting Bangkok police chief Pol Maj Gen Chakthip Chaijinda told journalists that senior police officers met urgently after the incident and agreed that about two youths were involved and it had arisen from a personal conflict.

The bombers must have climbed to the verandah of a nearby building to throw them, Gen Chaktip said, but they missed and fell on a roof instead.

The bombs were of the RDG-5 type manufactured in Russia which are not imported or used by the Thai military, he said.

Gen Chakthip said police were investigating how the explosive was brought into Thailand.

-- TNA 2010-10-02

for the benefit of dyslexic MCOT editors, they are RGD-5 grenades

The distance the grenade can be thrown is estimated at 40-50 metres. An internal fragmentation liner generates approximately 350 fragments upon detonation. This grenade can inflict injuries out to 15 metres from the site of detonation. Victims caught within 3 metres of the detonation site are almost certain to be killed or severely wounded.

This grenade is still manufactured in Russia.

[OzMick]

Such a colourful story of intrigue. And the Police will "invite" witnesses???? And it has possible teenage conflict links? What - kids with M79 grenades? Who writes this garbage? They have the journalistic skills of the Walt Disney company.

Not M-79 grenades which are fired from a launcher. These were Russian-made hand grenades, as in "pull the pin and chuck it". Initial story had police stating that not type used by Thai military, therefore must be teenagers/youths settling personal conflict, a leap of logic that escapes me. Police also stated unknown how these grenades had entered Thailand, but didn't conclude that they may be difficult for the average teenager to come by. Could it not be assumed that they were purchased by someone who was in Russia recently?

[Hardback]

Police initially theorised that the attack stemmed from a personal conflict as the area is frequently used by teenagers as a meeting place.

It's those dam_n kids chucking hand grenades again!!

Edited October 3, 2010 by Hardback

[upena]

It would be nice to read a completely coherent, fact checked, story that actually flows from one thought to the next. Instead of jumping from teenagers, to terrorists, to men in black, to red shirts, to personal conflict, to whatever other possible explanation real or imagined. All purely speculation.

Maybe the invited witnesses can shed some light and provide some facts. And the author can compose paragraphs of more than one sentence.

[dumpling]

This on the back of the predicted 20/30 % rise in tourist figures , I am busy reassuring family members due for a visit that it is safe but when they read the newspapers and see these bombings small as they are it still cast doubt as to whether they should come or not.

It would be so much better if the response from the authorities was a little more committal and they at least appeared to be making efforts to catch the culprits.

Thailand is becoming like the old west no justice or action until money is involved , maybe it is time to dust of my Stetson grab my six shooter and find me a bounty that needs collecting.

yipee kai aye

[souvenirdeparis]

Not M-79 grenades which are fired from a launcher. These were Russian-made hand grenades, as in "pull the pin and chuck it". Initial story had police stating that not type used by Thai military

%

modern comfort for the military; nothing's too expensive for them.

launchers are used by crowd control units here, with always stories of 'straight shooting' (rare now) not the military as a rule .

I'd be surprised the Thai army used russian weapons ; surelu uncle Sam wouldn't approve ; but why do they need to blurp at once the army didn't do it ??

[Phuket_Brad]

So where did the Russian Grenades come from: could it be Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout ?

[souvenirdeparis]

what army uses Russian weapons ? Laos ? Kampucha ?

[Buchholz]

what army uses Russian weapons ? Laos ? Kampucha ?

plus a whole bunch of others:

In 2008, Russia’s arms shipments to foreign customers were evaluated at $8.35 billion.

Russian-made weaponry is sold to over 70 countries of the world.

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/29-01-2010/111928-russian_arms-0/

[RKASA]

what army uses Russian weapons ? Laos ? Kampucha ?

Klong Toy?

[Buchholz]

It would be nice to read a completely coherent, fact checked, story that actually flows from one thought to the next. Instead of jumping from teenagers, to terrorists, to men in black, to red shirts, to personal conflict, to whatever other possible explanation real or imagined. All purely speculation.

Maybe the invited witnesses can shed some light and provide some facts. And the author can compose paragraphs of more than one sentence.

it just gets muddier...

Police: bomb at Pratunam not to create social disturbance

BANGKOK, 3 October 2010 (NNT) - Police from Phayathai Police Station believe the bomb that exploded over the rooftop of a restaurant in Pratunam area was not aimed at creating a stir or aggravating the political situation.

The police speculated that the bomb had been left by the black-clad group during the political rally and someone must have picked it up. A witness said a group of 3-4 teenagers was drinking on the roofs of a building nearby just before the incident took place, but could not confirm if they were the ones who detonated the bomb.

The bomb exploded over the rooftop of the restaurant on Saturday. No one was injured.

After asking the restaurant owner and customers, the police have found that the owner does not have any rival that would make the threat.

Traces of empty liquor bottles at the scene indicated that the group of teenagers could have been playing with the bomb when it blew up accidentally. Another theory is that the bomb could have been left at the scene and been exposed to sun and rain for so long that its controlling mechanism deteriorated and it went off by itself.

More investigation is underway.

-- NNT 2010-10-03

[whybother]

Was there any reporting of the "black clad group" having Russian grenades during the protests?

[Buchholz]

Another theory is that the bomb could have been left at the scene and been exposed to sun and rain for so long that its controlling mechanism deteriorated and it went off by itself.

More investigation is underway.

Police from Phayathai Police Station are contemplating bringing in the sun for further questioning and are on the look-out for the dark, ominous clouds that eyewitnesses said keep returning to the area.

Edited October 3, 2010 by Buchholz

[souvenirdeparis]

I don't buy the sun story; live ammos from WW I (first)are routinely found in such quantities that a newplant must be built to dispose of them ; or is the sun in T so much brighter ?

[RKASA]

I don't buy the sun story; live ammos from WW I (first)are routinely found in such quantities that a newplant must be built to dispose of them ; or is the sun in T so much brighter ?

WWI was a long time ago. You need to factor in global warming effect and the cook off time of newer weapons made with cheaper materials. elementary.

Edited October 3, 2010 by RKASA

[souvenirdeparis]

Russian gear, low quality ? but cheap ; you get what you pay for.

[ianh68]

"BANGKOK: -- The two grenades were lobbed(1) onto the roof of a Krung Thai Bank branch near the shop at around 11.30pm.

Police noted the names of all residents in nearby buildings as the grenades were believed to have been thrown down(2) from one of the buildings.

The police speculated that the bomb had been left by the black-clad group during the political rally and someone must have picked it up(3)."

So was this bomb travelling up(1), down(2) or standing still(3)?

[OzMick]

1/ ".......the other................ had its pin removed but failed to explode."

2/ Another theory is that the bomb could have been left at the scene and been exposed to sun and rain for so long that its controlling mechanism deteriorated and it went off by itself.

After comparing and contrasting statements 1/ and 2/ , I find that that 2/ is a consignment of geriatric shoemakers (aka a load of old cobblers). So we come back to the unlikely scenario of teenagers who find 2 grenades, get drunk, and decide to pull the pins and throw them BUT 3/ "............. was not aimed at creating a stir or aggravating the political situation." Uh-huh.

[beammeup]

Perhaps this is just a taste of whats to come if they hand over Vic Bout.