Bomb Expert Trained Iranian Suspects: Bangkok Police

[webfact]

VALENTINE'S DAY BLASTS

Bomb expert trained suspects

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- One of the four Middle East men captured by security cameras during the blasts in Bangkok on Valentine's Day was suspected to be a bomb expert who passed on his bombmaking skills to the other three, police said yesterday.

Police also had the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court approve arrest warrants for the three Iranian men at the scene and an Iranian woman, Leila Rohani, 32, who reportedly has fled to Tehran, out of Thai police's reach.

The wounded suspect, Saeid Moradi, 28, faces charges of making explosives, possessing explosives without a permit, causing explosions that endangered others and attempting to murder onduty police and other persons. The three other suspects are wanted for the first three charges.

The police investigation team held their first meeting. Metropolitan Police chief Winai Thongsong said Special Branch police contacted Malaysia to seek the extradition of suspect Seda Ghatzadeh Masoud, 31, who flew to Kuala Lumpur, while Mohammad Hazaei, 42, arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport, would initially face the charge of launching bomb attacks.

In trying to determine if the explosions were related to the bomb attacks in India and Georgia, police have asked parties for more information.

Initially, the Bangkok bomb materials appear similar to what was used in the attacks on Israeli interests in other countries, in that magnets would affix the bomb to a car target, he added.

According to a source at the national security agency, prior to the first explosion at the suspects' rented house near Sukhumvit Soi 71, witnesses said they saw an Iranian man in his 50s and 150 - 160cm tall going out of the house with a large luggage case at about 7am.

Security footage showed that in the week before the blasts, this man went in and out of the house on a daily basis, the source said. He was also seen in the Thong Lor and Khlong Tan areas after the blasts and when Hazaei was arrested at Suvarnabhumi.

The man was suspected of being a bomber or taking explosive materials to teach the three Iranians to make bombs, the source said, adding that Israeli officials also gave information to Thai police in this case.

Pol Lt General Wiboon Bangtamai, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said Rohani was now in Tehran, Iran's capital.

"We can't ask Iran to send her back to Thailand as we have no extradition treaty with that country," he said.

Rohani was suspected of being the one who rented the house where the three Iranian men stayed and where the first device exploded, apparently by accident.

Rohani's absence would not affect the case, as she had only rented the house. Thai police have enough evidence such as footage from security cameras and bomb materials found in the house, he added.

However, police searched her room at the house and turned up some more evidence, but offered no details.

Deputy police chief Pansiri Prapawat said that, besides the four wanted Iranians, police were also gathering information for an arrest warrant for a Middle East man who might be involved and checking if he was still in Thailand.

Police would continue to comb the damaged house and search two or three other places that the four Iranians had been seen frequenting. The house had so far not shown any signs of any terrorist group. Suppliers should alert police if foreigners buy a suspicious amount of material that could be used in bomb making, he added.

Wanchai Rujanawong, directorgeneral of the Office of the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs Bureau, said the extradition of Masoud from Malaysia would take some time. The agency was waiting for the submission of case documents from police, which would need to be translated, and would then proceed according to the ThaiBritish extradition treaty. Britain used to rule Malaysia. If that couldn't apply, Thai authorities would try diplomatic leverage of reciprocal trade with Malaysia.

Dr Prasert Triwijitsilpa, deputy director of Chulalongkorn Hospital, said Moradi, who lost both his legs in one blast, was in stable condition and remained unconscious and on respiratory assistance. Doctors would keep him under surveillance for 72 hours for infection.

Kluaynamthai Hospital released one of the blast victims, 82yearold Kangwal Horprasatthong.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

[Atoosa07]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-iran-usa-intelligence-idUSTRE81F14V20120216?feedType=RSS&feedName=Iran&virtualBrandChannel=10209&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=59365

[p_brownstone]

From the results his "Students" obtained he's not much of an expert!

Patrick

[rwhoov]

I wonder how inept they'll be if they ever get nuclear weapons. Perhaps we'll be lucky and they'll blow up their nuclear factory as these 4 blew up their own house and 2 legs.

[Credo]

The guy may be an expert, but he obviously needs to take some education courses before embarking on a teaching career.

The scary thing is that he is still out there and I am wonder how large a network is in place.

[oevna]

God I hope this investigation is not left in the hands of the Bangkok police. If there were ever a time for Thailand to let Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan do a proper investigation, now would be it.

[TheGhostWithin]

Does it not disturb anyone else, that "foreigners" are being labelled as the culprit? So far with the evidence presented to the public, only IRANIANS have been implicated in the events and the lead up to the events. To label "foreigners" as the culprits, is a little unfair. Is it not discriminatory to screen ALL "foreigners" and treat them with suspicion, when only persons of a single country are involved?

I would love to see the reaction if we were to treat all "middle eastern" people with suspicion after the September 11 attacks on an official scale, realising that many of us still do have suspicion of persons from certain countries whose central religion is that which shares its' homelands with the Tora. "Foreigners" also warned the Thai government of these events 1-2 weeks in advance, and were asked not to disturb the smooth flow of tourists into Thailand.

[smedly]

scary stuff, keep an eye on your neigbours - you just never know and report any suspect people/activity to the police.

[khaowong1]

Yes they CAN ask Iran to send the woman back, however I'm sure Iran will tell them to go piss up a rope, so rather than to lose face, they just won't ask. There, problem solved.

[draggons]

Wonder if he had a work permit???????

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The plot thickens... More people involved.... More participants still running free, maybe still in Thailand...

[rockderk]

Wanchai Rujanawong, director general of the Office of the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs Bureau, said the extradition of Masoud from Malaysia would take some time. The agency was waiting for the submission of case documents from police, which would need to be translated, and would then proceed according to the ThaiBritish extradition treaty. Britain used to rule Malaysia. If that couldn't apply, Thai authorities would try diplomatic leverage of reciprocal trade with Malaysia.

Yeah. I'm sure the Malaysian govt would warm to that proposal:

'Say Mohammed, remember when you guys were ruled by those Brits? Yeah, that's right, about the time we weren't colonized by the Japanese. How's about we take a walk down 'ol memory lane and you pretend the treaties that were forced upon you are still in force now. Hahaha yeah..

I know it's a stretch, but you know, Allah U Akbar and all that... hello? Hello?

[JSixpack]

Does it not disturb anyone else, that "foreigners" are being labelled as the culprit?

No, because some foreigners are in fact the culprits here.

So far with the evidence presented to the public, only IRANIANS have been implicated in the events and the lead up to the events. To label "foreigners" as the culprits, is a little unfair. Is it not discriminatory to screen ALL "foreigners" and treat them with suspicion, when only persons of a single country are involved?

IRANIANS are foreigners, you see. You do realize that this is Thailand.

And to treat all foreigners buying bomb-making materials with suspicion is totally understandable, even commendable. Yes, please do that!

[blackthorn2005]

He should be charged with 'Not facing the camera' at immigration, that carries a harsher penalty.

Oh, by the way, what about "witnesses said they saw an Iranian man in his 50s and 150 - 160cm tall going out of the house with a large luggage case at about 7am."?

[webfact]

Police seek arrest warrant for 5th suspect in Sukhumvit blast

BANGKOK, Feb 17 – Thailand’s police are collecting added evidence and information to ask the Court for approval to issue an additional arrest warrant, for a fifth suspect who may have been involved in the explosions in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area on Tuesday.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Anuchai Lekbumrung said that Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat, deputy national police chief overseeing the case has ordered investigators to gather more evidence on the fifth suspect, a person who has connection with the four Iranians already charged, as the CCTV captured images of him walking from the rental house where the first bomb exploded, apparently by accident.

According to the CCTV record, he left the house at around 7-8am, and the first explosion has occurred at a rented house in Sukhumvit 71’s Soi Pridi Panomyong 31 in the afternoon.

Thailand’s Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for four Iranians on varied charges concerning Tuesday’s Bangkok bomb incidents

Two Iranian suspects were arrested earlier -- Saeid Moradi, 28, who lost his legs from his own explosive device -- and another suspect, Mohammad Hazaei, 42, who was taken into custody at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday while attempting to board a plane to Malaysia.

A third Iranian identified as Masoud Sedaghatzadeh was arrested on Wednesday by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur.

Regarding a fourth suspect, also an Iranian national identified as Rohani Leila, Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Wiboon Bangthamai cited intelligence reports that she has returned to the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Ms Rohani was identified as the person who rent the house at Sukhumvit 71’s Soi Pridi Panomyong 31.

On Thursday at 8pm, police from Khlong Ton police station, forensic experts, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit inspected room number 409 at Nasa Vegas Tower in Khlong Ton which Ms Rohani also rented.

After one hour of inspection, police found evidence which will be further analysed but no explosive substances or any bombs inside the room. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-17

[Siripon]

From the results his "Students" obtained he's not much of an expert!

Patrick

Perhaps he obtained his 'degree' in bomb making from one of the stalls on Khaosan road.

[OzMick]

I wonder how inept they'll be if they ever get nuclear weapons. Perhaps we'll be lucky and they'll blow up their nuclear factory as these 4 blew up their own house and 2 legs.

Should that happen, I have no doubt that the blame would be placed on Israel (Mossad) or the US (stealth bombers that nobody can see) if not both.

[pitrevie]

As this incident had nothing to do with Iran who have claimed that it was an Israeli plot I am sure they will be only too pleased to extradite Leila Rohani who reportedly fled to Tehran back to Thailand.

[JSixpack]

Wanchai Rujanawong, director general of the Office of the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs Bureau, said the extradition of Masoud from Malaysia would take some time. The agency was waiting for the submission of case documents from police, which would need to be translated, and would then proceed according to the ThaiBritish extradition treaty. Britain used to rule Malaysia. If that couldn't apply, Thai authorities would try diplomatic leverage of reciprocal trade with Malaysia.

Yeah. I'm sure the Malaysian govt would warm to that proposal:

'Say Mohammed, remember when you guys were ruled by those Brits? Yeah, that's right, about the time we weren't colonized by the Japanese. How's about we take a walk down 'ol memory lane and you pretend the treaties that were forced upon you are still in force now. Hahaha yeah..

I know it's a stretch, but you know, Allah U Akbar and all that... hello? Hello?

That just reveals abysmal ignorance of the historical relationship. This forum is always entertaining for such displays.

Anyway, if Malaysia didn't like the treaty it could have renegotiated it long ago.

[OzMick]

I suppose an escape and evasion lesson would have been too much to ask for.

Edited February 17, 2012 by OzMick

[Card]

I reckon the bomb teacher was israeli - best way to get a result!

Edited February 17, 2012 by Card

[Card]

"The house had so far not shown any signs of any terrorist group"

... duurrrr - no signs of home-made bomb damage even!

[Orac]

Seems like these inept terrorists also picked a house with a cctv camera pointing at it - how unlucky can you get!

[TackyToo]

Does it not disturb anyone else, that "foreigners" are being labelled as the culprit? So far with the evidence presented to the public, only IRANIANS have been implicated in the events and the lead up to the events. To label "foreigners" as the culprits, is a little unfair. Is it not discriminatory to screen ALL "foreigners" and treat them with suspicion, when only persons of a single country are involved?

I would love to see the reaction if we were to treat all "middle eastern" people with suspicion after the September 11 attacks on an official scale, realising that many of us still do have suspicion of persons from certain countries whose central religion is that which shares its' homelands with the Tora. "Foreigners" also warned the Thai government of these events 1-2 weeks in advance, and were asked not to disturb the smooth flow of tourists into Thailand.

I would love to see the reaction if we were to treat all "middle eastern" people with suspicion after the September 11 attacks on an official scale

This is exactly what happens! Maybe you are not aware of it because you miss the "official scale"?

[JSPS]

The ineptness of the bombmakers is even greater when you realize that C4 is a very stable explosive. It is really, really, really hard to set off by accident.

American troops have used it since the 1960s with very few accidents, and that's without any highly technical training. Usually a 30 to 60 min class.

[maxman71]

Does it not disturb anyone else, that "foreigners" are being labelled as the culprit? So far with the evidence presented to the public, only IRANIANS have been implicated in the events and the lead up to the events. To label "foreigners" as the culprits, is a little unfair. Is it not discriminatory to screen ALL "foreigners" and treat them with suspicion, when only persons of a single country are involved?

I would love to see the reaction if we were to treat all "middle eastern" people with suspicion after the September 11 attacks on an official scale, realising that many of us still do have suspicion of persons from certain countries whose central religion is that which shares its' homelands with the Tora. "Foreigners" also warned the Thai government of these events 1-2 weeks in advance, and were asked not to disturb the smooth flow of tourists into Thailand.

No, this does not disturb me that only foreigners/Iranians are the only ones being labelled as the cuplrits. The facts at hand as we know now, point clearly in that direction. Politically Correct Dogma has no place when facts and statistics are concerned. And the facts are clear that the overwhelming origin of terrorists are from the ME or are of ME/muslim descent. When people of ME/muslim descent start taking more seriously this issue and are more diligent to weed out the violent terrorists, then perhaps others will not view them through the lense of suspicion. I do agree with you that Thailand stuck its' head in the sand in reference to ignoring warnings from various foreign intelligence agencies that an event such as this was imminent.

[connda]

I wish that both the West and the Middle East would stop using Thailand as part of their freaking chessboard.

Blow yourselves up, but leave SE Asia out of your game! I moved here to get away from the stupidity.