The Latest on Bangkok: Police say suspect may have escaped

[Lite Beer]

The Latest on Bangkok: Police say suspect may have escaped
The Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — The latest on the bombings in the Thai capital (all times local):
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9:30 a.m.

Almost a week on since the deadly Bangkok bomb attack, Thailand's police say investigators need some luck to catch those behind it, and they may have already left the country.

National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, speaking to reporters early Sunday morning, says "we need some luck. If the police have good fortune we might be able to make an arrest but ... if the perpetrator has good fortune maybe they can get away."

The bombing on Monday at a popular city shrine left 20 people dead and more than 100 wounded. So far the operation to find who carried out the attack appears to have made little headway with apparently contradictory statements coming from the military-backed government and the police.

Police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri says he believes the perpetrator would have timed an escape carefully and "wouldn't have much time to stay around."

He told Channel 3 TV network: "I suspect that he may have left, but we will keep searching, in case we can find others who may be in the country or find clues, evidence and witnesses who may have seen him."

— Tassanee Vejpongsa, Bangkok

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2:15 p.m.

Thai authorities say they have made "much progress" in their investigation of Monday's bombing in central Bangkok that killed 20 people.

A spokesman for Thailand's ruling junta said they have been able to use closed circuit television to learn the transportation route that the main suspect took to and from the downtown Erawan shrine.

Col. Winthai Suvaree also said Saturday that a police artist's sketch of the unidentified suspect has been distributed to border crossings.

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1:15 p.m.

New surveillance video has surfaced in Thailand offering a possible clue to Monday's bombing in downtown Bangkok that took 20 lives.

Video leaked to Thai media shows a man in a blue shirt placing a bag on a riverside walkway, then kicking it into the water on Monday night shortly after the explosion several kilometers (miles) away at the Erawan shrine.

At about 1 p.m. Tuesday, an explosion took place in the water canal near a busy pier without hurting anyone.

Police spokesman Prawuth Thawornsiri said Saturday that police are seeking the man for questioning, even though it remains unclear if his actions had anything to do with either explosion.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-23

[peterjackson]

Of all the statements the RTP have made since the bombings, finally one I believe.

[nev]

Yes, he has gone he could be anywhere in the world right now along with his accomplishes, or he could be in Bangkok sipping Latte.

[Songhua]

Don't they still have a "network" of "at least ten" others to catch? Or did they all escape together?

[MK1]

Time they started cleaning the soot from the lens of cctv cameras across the city so they actually see something otherwise what's the point in having them.

[Kannikapor88]

National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, speaking to reporters early Sunday morning, says "we need some luck. If the police have good fortune we might be able to make an arrest but ... if the perpetrator has good fortune maybe they can get away."

I think this guy have mixed up "Police Work" and "Luck" ... Maybe he still have Casino´s on his mind or could be the Lottery ... Horrible that such an incompetent person can lead a Policeforce ...

[LuukKoeyKorat]

Groan

They only distributed the 'wanted' poster to border posts...yesterday...?!

[Artisi]

Well bugger me, seems they might have got something 100% correct, but then again I await the next thrilling instalment of what ever the next lot of ground breaking news is.

[BSJ]

If the guy wasn't shot and buried after the bombing he would have been out of the country quick enough.

[phuketrichard]

i figure he took the moto to Lumpini park, grabbed a taxi to the airport and way before they viewed the first tapes was gone

[snoopy21]

So the next step is going to a temple and pray for luck?!

[Usernames]

Okay. It's all over. Forget about it. It's ancient history. Tourism is up. The Chinese are coming. Everybody is happy. Just that little thing about pulling the plug on the internet and everything will be perfect.

[MaxLee]

"The Latest on Bangkok: Police say suspect may have escaped"

It should obviously say: The Latest on Bangkok: Police say suspect may have HAS ALREADY escaped...

.... and is laughing his behind off about the authorities of the Land of Smiles, and conveying the message to his fellas, "Hey you know, Smile-land is so open to threats (<- to put it mildly this way due to forum rules)...

[PatOngo]

The only thing that has escaped is competence and logic, but they escaped long ago.

[Usernames]

The only thing that has escaped is competence and logic, but they escaped long ago.

Things were once on the road to improvement in this country. That was during the 60s and early 70s. Since then, a steady decline.

[z42]

Great powers of deduction from the RTP again. If the killer hadn't have fled sharpish then he would be about as brainless as those assigned with chasing him....

[clockman]

Frightening thought these people, are in charge of protecting tourists!

[ezzra]

Oh no... like we didn't SEE THAT COMING...... what a shocker....

[fritzzz25]

Okay. It's all over. Forget about it. It's ancient history. Tourism is up. The Chinese are coming. Everybody is happy. Just that little thing about pulling the plug on the internet and everything will be perfect.

And we are making a new LINE application to make the people happy!!!!

[DavisH]

Sod the competence! Go to the temple and pray for luck. Seems like the bombers outwitted the BiB once again. Did they even check the airport security cameras on that evening?

[MaxLee]

Frightening thought these people, are in charge of protecting tourists!

In charge???? Those false, nation backstabbing "nobles" in power couldn't care less about the casualties of a few victims, just to desperately put on a FACE...

[SanukDii]

No surprise here. The police in Thailand are not a security and intelligence gathering organisation. They are a rent collecting and revenue generating organisation.

[MrJohnson]

As with so many criminal/terrorist acts in this country, this will most probably remain unloved. Heartbreaking for the victims and their families but that's what happens when the Keystone cops are in charge.

[willyumiii]

No surprise here. The police in Thailand are not a security and intelligence gathering organisation. They are a rent collecting and revenue generating organisation.

Then why don't they issue traffic citations and generate billions of baht?

Actually enforcing laws is an untapped goldmine in Thailand.

[jonclark]

I am just hoping that this statement isn't softener, before the RTP hoist up the white flag and say ' we give up'. The people who perished and the families of those killed deserve justice, and that means the RTP need to pull their finger out and start some police work, including liaising with their overseas colleagues.

Just unacceptable to say 'we need some luck'. Is that what police work is? Luck.

[Aroi88]

Life's fair.

LOS lucky beautiful country

But gets crap unlucky police.

[MaxLee]

"National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, speaking to reporters early Sunday morning, says "we need some luck. If the police have good fortune we might be able to make an arrest but ... if the perpetrator has good fortune maybe they can get away.""

Luck,.... Luck,.... lucky that you lost international face

[Kannikapor88]

Once again relatives of murdered innocent people will not get closure cause of gross incompetence ... Wonder how many per year thats murdered here without finding the killers ...

[ikurauni]

I have no doubt that the man is already gone before the sketch of the suspect was circulated.
He could have crossed the border or flied out on the same night.
Did the police really believe that the man stays in Thailand hiding?
I would leave the country immediately if I were him.

[Briggsy]

Somyot is very high up in a huge organised crime pyramid.

He oversees the channeling upwards of hundreds of millions of baht each week. He keeps some and channels the rest further upwards and some to expenses to keep the pyramid running.

He doesn't have the time and resources to spend on non-profitable activities like unexplained bombings. Where is the profit in THAT???