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[Lite Beer]

BANGKOK BLAST
Thai police investigating CCTV showing second suspicious bag drop

BANGKOK- Thai police on Saturday said they were investigating new security camera footage showing a man dropping a package into a canal as the hunt for those behind Monday's deadly Bangkok bomb blast entered its fifth day without arrests.

CCTV video widely circulated by local media Saturday showed a man in a blue t-shirt kicking the package off a footbridge in the same spot where a device exploded on Tuesday without injuries.

That second blast intensified anxiety in an already rattled city, following Monday’s bomb attack on a religious shrine in Bangkok’s commercial heart that cut down 20 people and wounded scores more.

Authorities have not ruled out a link between the two explosions.

The shrine bomb killed mostly ethnic Chinese tourists from across Asia, and has left police scrambling to find the assailants.

National police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri confirmed that the new footage was being examined to decide whether the man dropping the package into the water near Saphan Thaksin pier was a suspect.

"We have to verify the information," he told told AFP adding the situation was "still confusing".

The unverified footage is time-stamped just a few minutes after Monday’s blast, which struck at 18.55pm (1155 GMT).

- Bag kicked into canal -

=========================

It shows the man in the blue t-shirt carrying something heavy in a plastic bag. He goes to the side of a footbridge, places the bag down and then uses his mobile phone.

Around a minute later he pushes the bag into the canal with his foot, kicking up a visible splash of water.

The following day, shortly after 1:00 pm on Tuesday, an explosion went off in the canal, which is near a popular tourist pier, sending people scurrying for cover but causing no injuries.

Until now the search for the perpetrator of Monday’s attack has focused on a primary suspect in a yellow t-shirt seen placing a heavy rucksack under a bench at the shrine.

Moments later the blast struck, scattering body parts, glass and debris over a bustling Bangkok shopping district.

Asked whether the man in the blue t-shirt and the yellow t-shirt could be the same perpetrator, Prawut said: "It’s likely the two men are different."

A junta spokesman said 56 people remained in hospital on Saturday. Many are known to have suffered horrific injuries.

- Wailing mourners -

====================

At a Catholic church shaped like a Thai temple less than 10 minutes from the blast site, around two dozen worshippers attended a memorial service for Di Wu Chengi, a Christian Chinese mainlander who was killed in the blast.

Wailing could be heard coming from inside the church as the congregation sang the hymn "Nearer my God to thee".

"We are all here because we feel sorry not only for Di Wu Chengi but also for society experiencing violence," a priest told members of the congregation according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

"The loss of his life is a witness to the fact that violence is not an answer," he added.

With no-one claiming responsibility for the bombing, rumours and speculation have swirled in Thailand over the country’s worst single mass casualty attack in living memory.

The potential perpetrators named by police and experts alike include international jihadists, members of Thailand’s southern Malay-Muslim insurgency, militants on both sides of Thailand’s festering political divide and even someone with a personal grudge.

Bangkok is in the grip of a decade-long political crisis that has been punctuated by violence, albeit mostly shootouts and small grenade or pipe bomb attacks.

On one side stands the military, backed by the middle class and elite.

On the other, the rural and urban poor loyal to populist politician Thaksin Shinawatra, toppled in a 2006 coup, and his sister Yingluck who was forced out of office days before the current junta seized power last year.

Thaksin’s eldest son said he had more than doubled the reward offered by police for the capture of the main suspect by putting up nearly $200,000.

The total reward money on offer from both police and private citizens now stands at around $335,000.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thai-police-investigating-CCTV-showing-second-susp-30267210.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-22

[Carmine6]

Put into the water about the same time as the Monday bombing. So was it intended to make people think they were still in the area or country almost a full day later? Or maybe the timer was not set right and it was intended to get police to split their time at both locations that night, while they went the other way. Dumped into water there, it was never going to do much harm even if there were lots of people around.

[Pattaya28]

Having all the CCTV in the world doesn't help if the images are blurred.

All the images of all the suspects cannot offer any identity whatsoever.

Why is CCTV even there ??

[candide]

Maybe it was only the body parts of a murdered person....

[Srikcir]

"the military, backed by the middle class"

This is a gross oversimplification of Thailand's politics. I doubt one will find a lot of middle class backing for the military in the South, North and North East parts of the nation.

The article is fine where it just reports the facts related to the two bombs. But the author is trying some creative journalism and failed.

[Thai at Heart]

"the military, backed by the middle class"

This is a gross oversimplification of Thailand's politics. I doubt one will find a lot of middle class backing for the military in the South, North and North East parts of the nation.

The article is fine where it just reports the facts related to the two bombs. But the author is trying some creative journalism and failed.

What is the middle class anyway? It doesn't fit with the definition in the West financially or politically. If it did, it would be less than 1% of the population...

[katana]

The clip in question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exob-2OzCm0

[steffi]

Is there timestamped footage that shows both suspects on the phone at the same time?

Edited August 22, 2015 by steffi

[noitom]

The Thais take a long time to analyze CCTV video. Do Thais really have the expertise required?

[Carmine6]

The clip in question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exob-2OzCm0

I don't think I'm allowed to link it, but there's another video on a Thai website which is a fairly sharp video of a guy in blue shirt carrying a heavy plastic bag. Same website had this video yesterday, so probably the new one will show up on an English website by tomorrow. The bag is so heavy he has to lean to the other side to balance it while walking.

He has a black bag with a strap like the guy is this video did, and light colored graphics on the front of the shirt as appears to be the case in this video. Crosses a small street or alley toward the camera, then pauses underneath to check something on phone. Seems to make a call right before leaving the camera view, as he puts the phone up to his ear, right before picking up the plastic bag and leaving.

Timestamp is around 19:10, which might be a little after this first video if true. Likely some time issues in one or both of these cameras.

[Seann]

Very little about any of this makes sense. Why not kill more people with the second bomb instead of discarding it? Maybe the Thai gov met extortion demands?

[oneday]

For me, there is no question that was the bomb and the person who put it there.

At first I thought, seeing where he first stopped, that isn't where the bomb went off, but then he moved further down to the exact spot where the bomb did go off. He is the only one lingering on the bridge and he is obviously talking to someone about what he is doing and he looks nervous. I sure hope they can find this guy. It just feels connected to the Erawan bomb.

The strange thing is he/they intended for the bomb to go in the water. They had to know it would cause little to no damage. They don't seem to be stupid, so what was the point? Diversion? Misdirection?

And as someone else asked, what was the time he dropped it off the bridge compared to when the Erawan bomb went off.

[ourmanflint]

It makes complete sense to do this if the effects of the first bomb were far bigger than than the bombers intended. Maybe they didn't realise how powerful the bomb was or how much damage it would do? Previous pipe bombs in Bangkok didn't end up killing so many people, so perhaps they just got scared?

Seems likely that somewhere in between where yellow shirt was dropped off and this canal, is where the bombs were made and carried from. A deepwater explosion ie with bomb on river bed does sort of tie up with what was seen on CCTV when this device went off, as if it was anywhere near the surface having been thrown from above, it still should have caused significant damage to pontoon and passers by.

[gandalf12]

The Thais take a long time to analyze CCTV video. Do Thais really have the expertise required?

Obviously not. I get the impression also that the CCTV cameras were not exactly placed with a lot of thought

[Bluespunk]

It could just be some <deleted> dumping trash into the canal.

[gandalf12]

The video highlights something in that the cameras should be monitored by the police. Obviously they are not as they would have zoomed in if they had been. Further, if the area is considered a place for potential "problems" why is it not patrolled by the police. They should be around and visible all the time if the rea is considered a potential trouble spot

[Baerboxer]

"the military, backed by the middle class"

This is a gross oversimplification of Thailand's politics. I doubt one will find a lot of middle class backing for the military in the South, North and North East parts of the nation.

The article is fine where it just reports the facts related to the two bombs. But the author is trying some creative journalism and failed.

Indeed an over simplification - suggesting all the urban and rural poor are loyal to Thaksin, which they clearly aren't. That one seems to be so often "cut and pasted" into articles.

The police here just don't seem to be able to react. The CCTV cameras are good quality, they don't seem to do much live monitoring and I wonder if they have any facial recognition software?

But they are good at photo ops and making inane statements.

[tumama]

He could easily have pretended to talk on the phone to make it less suspicious standing on the bridge. That's what I would have done.

[diehard60]

"We have to verify the information," he told told AFP adding the situation was "still confusing".

Yep I guess it would be to any Thai police officer.

[user82374298374]

Dumped into water there, it was never going to do much harm even if there were lots of people around.

Maybe this bomber had an attack of conscience at the last minute, dropping it into the water rather than placing it somewhere it would be likely to kill people.

Edited August 23, 2015 by disambiguated

[chrisinth]

According to the authorities, they think that the devices were between 3 - 4kg (doubt this very much) of explosives. Add to that another kilo for the packing (ball bearings in this case) and going with their estimation you would be looking at something weighing at the outside 5kg.

The package was kicked off the bridge at approx. 19:00, was in the water until 13:00 the next day, submerged. How was it triggered? Rather, what triggered it? And to what end?

Those are the questions they need to be focusing on.

Authorities claimed that the device didn't fully detonate (one of their earlier reports after the event) so one would assume that partial evidence was recovered from the scene by the divers so perhaps they actually (hopefully) know more than they are releasing to the public?

Although the guy in the video clip was acting very strangely, i do ask myself how much rubbish is dumped into the water system in Bkk daily?

[Scott]

Can a device be detonated easily once it is under water. Certainly it can't be detonated by cell phone.

[The Deerhunter]

Having all the CCTV in the world doesn't help if the images are blurred.

All the images of all the suspects cannot offer any identity whatsoever.

Why is CCTV even there ??

Technology becomes outdated quickly. It may well have been state-of-art when installed but if it was now semi-obsolete but still functioning OK, it is hard to get budget to update the system to the new state-of-art, particularly if there has never been a a big catch or a big save with the existing system. And how long before the NEW current state-of-art tech is superseded again. This was my problem in retail. One of only two times we really wanted it working was to get a car licence plate number, in the carpark after an incident. In one it was blurred and in the other, he wore a mask. 15 years. Our second system. (an updated system) Two events. Neither with successful images. The guy we sold to has updated again in the last 2 years. It is hard to justify sometimes if the reasons are not pressing. By the way, The reasons are suddenly pressing now!!!!! But will the next big event happen where a camera is, or will the new system capture useful images? Only time will tell. Bangkok is a big place with lots of "potential targets."

[Darkknight666]

"the military, backed by the middle class"

This is a gross oversimplification of Thailand's politics. I doubt one will find a lot of middle class backing for the military in the South, North and North East parts of the nation.

The article is fine where it just reports the facts related to the two bombs. But the author is trying some creative journalism and failed.

What is the middle class anyway? It doesn't fit with the definition in the West financially or politically. If it did, it would be less than 1% of the population...

Looks to me like he set the bag down and then took a photo of it. The last man to see the guy before the video cuts got a look at his face, if the police reach out he may recall the bombers face.

Phone records,, could they not look at phone records for the exact time of day and that location and track down every number? Or is that too much to expect here? Genuinely curious whether the police are doing anything more than basic police work.

If they want this man found, and the crimes answered for why not allow assistance from an agency better equipped? If not USA and UK how about Singapore,, I feel they could all be of help.

[gandalf12]

Could be fitted with a mechanical timer

[speedtripler]

Can a device be detonated easily once it is under water. Certainly it can't be detonated by cell phone.

Yes, phone signal can penetrate water as deep as that canal without issue

[gandalf12]

Can a device be detonated easily once it is under water. Certainly it can't be detonated by cell phone.

Yes, phone signal can penetrate water as deep as that canal without issue

Are you sure a cell phone could receive under water? The higher the frequency the ls penetration the signal has. Couple that with the sensativity of a cell phone with the attenuation of the water and if it is over a metre I wouldnt put money on the signal being received. The attenuation can be calculated but if it gives a figure of <-dB120 then I would consider it very lucky if it would operate anything

[speedtripler]

Can a device be detonated easily once it is under water. Certainly it can't be detonated by cell phone.

Yes, phone signal can penetrate water as deep as that canal without issue

Are you sure a cell phone could receive under water? The higher the frequency the ls penetration the signal has. Couple that with the sensativity of a cell phone with the attenuation of the water and if it is over a metre I wouldnt put money on the signal being received. The attenuation can be calculated but if it gives a figure of <-dB120 then I would consider it very lucky if it would operate anything

If you have a waterproof modern phone you can feel it ring underwater in pools

Maybe the phone call activates a countdown timer also , they both seemed to use phones especially the 2nd guy

He didn't need to behave so suspiciously for so long if he could have dropped it off the bridge while still walking and made less cctv evidence and potential witnesses

[chrisinth]

Can a device be detonated easily once it is under water. Certainly it can't be detonated by cell phone.

Yes, phone signal can penetrate water as deep as that canal without issue

Are you sure a cell phone could receive under water? The higher the frequency the ls penetration the signal has. Couple that with the sensativity of a cell phone with the attenuation of the water and if it is over a metre I wouldnt put money on the signal being received. The attenuation can be calculated but if it gives a figure of <-dB120 then I would consider it very lucky if it would operate anything

If you have a waterproof modern phone you can feel it ring underwater in pools

Maybe the phone call activates a countdown timer also , they both seemed to use phones especially the 2nd guy

He didn't need to behave so suspiciously for so long if he could have dropped it off the bridge while still walking and made less cctv evidence and potential witnesses

Not if it has been submerged for 17/18 hours. Highly unlikely anyway.

Mechanical timer would do it, but why would it be preset for that sort of time lapse? Because he didn't set it before kicking it in.

Go back to the original reports that a man was seen to throw the device and that it bounced into the water. Is this now being refuted?

[ddavidovsky]

The second bomb is making me think the whole operation was a botched job performed by youngsters who didn't know what they were doing (assuming these two bombs were not pure coincidence, which is surely beyond reasonable probability).

Have we had this theory yet: that they were local amateurs operating on their own and got out of their depth? That the first bomb was intended to cause damage and a few injuries, not to kill so many people? And the guy with the second bomb, having heard about the carnage of the first, quickly lost his bottle and got rid of it in this desperate way? Students?