Bangkok Police Suspect Gang Rivalry Behind Ramkhamhaeng Road Blast

[webfact]

Police suspect gang rivalry behind Ramkhamhaeng blast
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police suspect that conflict between gangs involved in extortion from roadside vendors was behind the small explosion on Ramkhamhaeng Road, near Ramkhamhaeng University, on Sunday night.

Police and National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr ruled out linking the blast with the insurgency in the deep South.

The explosion occurred at a roadside stall at the mouth of Ramkhamhaeng Soi 43/1, at 8.50pm. Seven people, including passers-by, were injured.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Khamronwit said that although a home-made bomb was used in the attack, the composition of the bomb was different.

He said the types of nails used in the bomb were different from those assembled in the southern border provinces. He said the bomb was apparently aimed at intimidating, not at taking lives like in the deep South.

Khamronwit said police would need more time to gather evidence and information before they could establish an exact motive of the attack. He added that police have not yet ruled out conflicts between gangs demanding protection fees from roadside vendors as a possible motive.

A bomb-disposal officer, who asked not to be identified, told The Nation that the maker of the bomb apparently wanted to make it look like attacks in the South. However, the bomb on Sunday night used less powerful explosives and it was stuffed with a lot of nails, in distorted shapes, the officer said.

He said bombs used in the southern insurgency attacks were more powerful and aimed at taking lives or causing serious injuries as the bombs used sharp and straight nails and pellets to harm victims.

Government Spokesman Teerat Ratana-sevi said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was informed of the explosion on Sunday night and she had ordered security agencies to urgently investigate the incident.

Teerat said police were checking for possible motives. Investigators initially suspected business conflict as the motive for the blast. However, terrorism has not yet been ruled out, the spokesman said.

He said the PM had instructed the police to step up security around Ramkhamhaeng University. Teerat denied earlier reports that police had arrested a suspect.

Paradorn said he had evaluated the situation and believed that the explosion was not related to southern insurgency because the facts were different.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will extract records from security cameras near the spot and give them to the Metropolitan Police. The records would come from cameras at the mouth of Soi Ramkhamhaeng 27, 41/1 and 53.


-- The Nation 2013-05-28

[Bellweather]

Well at least it's " gentlemanly " gang rivalry as the police have said the bomb packed with nails was not meant to injure. Marquis of Queensbury thuggery.

[Bellweather]

The police are at it again, the IN Channel 07.00 news show has just quoted a spokesman as saying the bomb had nothing to do with the troubles in the south but maybe intended to cause chaos but not to kill or injure. Other views have also been floated and I can't remember hearing the word " maybe " used so many times as almost every conceivable reason known to man has been suggested. I suppose if you cover every possible situation you might be right with one of them.

[fakename]

So, these nails were not designed to kill? Not the same nails used in the south? Bent nails do not kill people?

At least the PM ordered security agencies to investigate, otherwise, they would not investigate? I thought all the security agencies were on high alert, after the Boston bombing.

[TexasRanger]

I.E.D. the trademark of cowards around the world.

Collateral damage? What's that?

[lee b]

it doesn't matter who is behind it, who ever it is are sad sick cowards !

[Payboy]

Gang Rivalry

So it's not the ex-school teacher that they reportedly arrested yesterday?

[tominbkk]

Gang Rivalry

So it's not the ex-school teacher that they reportedly arrested yesterday?

Yeah what happened to him all of a sudden?

[qdinthailand]

It appears to me that the blast was to protest the pile of garbage left sitting on the street - obvious by the scattering of garbage all over the road.

Just cause!

[klauskunkel]

He added that police have not yet ruled out conflicts between gangs demanding protection fees from roadside vendors as a possible motive.

I thought extorting protection fees is exactly how the police operates...

[PETERTHEEATER]

An official announcement said that forensic evidence proved the bomb was business motivated! The wonders of science!

The bomb is stated to have been 'gunpowder' and nails initiated with a timing device. An IED such as this is clearly intended to kill or maim. Had it been to intimidate the 'gunpowder' alone would be sufficient.

[Bagwan]

Gospel according to St. Luke. Chapter 23, verse 34.

[gemini81]

Instead of accusing teachers and then losing credibility, why not report "under investigation" until factual results can be presented? Makes the reader put no faith in the concept this even had anything to do with gangs. Hard to know what is really on the desk at the police station. (especially after all that stashed away evidence on central world until you know who requests it!)

[tragickingdom]

type of nails were different? Different supplier, never heard of a bomber who travels with the ingredients of a bomb over long distances.

[belg]

they just put nails for fun then ?

oh just to injure and scare, not to kill ...

wow... IED in bangkok

not good publicity for TAT , right ?