Bangkok blast: Police examining data on recent Turkish visitors

[webfact]

BANGKOK BLAST
Police examining data on recent Turkish visitors
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLICE are examining the pictures of Turkish people who travelled into Thailand during the 15 days preceding the deadly Erawan Shrine bomb blast in their efforts to nail down the bomber and his accomplices, an informed source disclosed yesterday.

"More than 20 Turkish people came in during the period," the source said. Authorities, however, have been trying to downplay speculation that the blast might have had a link through militant members of a right-wing Turkish organisation known as the Grey Wolves.

According to speculation, the group might have been angered by the Thai government's repatriation of Uighur refugees back to China. An arrest warrant has now been issued for a suspected bomber who does not look Thai.

"The speculation simply comes from analyses, each one based on information in the hands of each analyst," national police commissioner Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said. A big explosion rocked the Erawan Shrine on August 17, killing 20 people and injuring more than 100 others. On August 18, another bomb exploded near the Sathorn Pier but caused no casualties.

On Monday, Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst for IHS Jane's, suggested the Grey Wolves might have played a role in the Bangkok bombing, possibly as revenge for Thailand's deportation of more than 100 Uighurs to China.

The Turkish embassy in Bangkok told The Nation yesterday it was verifying information with the foreign ministry in Ankara over reports that some Turks may have been involved in the blast. When asked whether the Turkish government had been contacted by Thai Police for cooperation, embassy staff said they could not respond on this issue for the moment.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, neither confirms nor denies that the government has tried to reach its Turkish counterpart.

Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri, insisted police 's database showed the Grey Wolves had never been active in Thailand.

"And no matter what, the bomb blast could have happened because of some Thais," he said.

Somyot separately said that at this point, police could not disclose all information regarding the case.

He also thanked people who had given recordings from their security cameras to police to help with the ongoing investigations. "We are in the process of improving the picture quality of these recordings," he added. He also thanked foreign governments that had offered modern technologies and equipment useful to the investigations. Another police source said police could collect latent fingerprints from the taxi that the suspected bomber hailed on August 17.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koom-chaya said his ministry would increase compensation for the families of each victim killed by the recent blast. "It will go up from Bt100,000 to Bt150,000," he said. For foreigners, their families will get Bt300,000 extra each from the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-examining-data-on-recent-Turkish-visitors-30267544.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-27

[noitom]

The Thais turn up the heat on the Turks. Now they are talking about yet another terrorist group called the Grey Wolves. Thais cling to the hope that they can "prove" that the perpetrator wasn't Thai.

[Thai at Heart]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

[DeepInTheForest]

The Thais turn up the heat on the Turks. Now they are talking about yet another terrorist group called the Grey Wolves. Thais cling to the hope that they can "prove" that the perpetrator wasn't Thai.

Some have found it useful to read an article before commenting on it. Others are of a different mindset.

[zaphod reborn]

I've thought all along that the bomber was probably a Turk, but just a suspicion based on his appearance and the attack on the Thai embassy in Istanbul.

RTP should have immediately investigated all entries from Muslim countries, and, not just the 15 days prior to the attack, but go back to Dec 2014. Why have they waited so long?

[MZurf]

As soon as I heard of the attack I though of Uighur extremists. I mean, if you want to deal a blow to both Thailand and China isn't the Erawan shrine a logical target?

[i claudius]

Whenever there are bombings and suicide attacks around the world which religion is usually responsible ?

[Peung]

'Justice Minister Paiboon Koom-chaya said his ministry would increase compensation for the families of each victim killed by the recent blast. "It will go up from Bt100,000 to Bt150,000," he said. For foreigners, their families will get Bt300,000 extra each from the Tourism and Sports Ministry'.

Dual pricing still going on then.

[Bakseeda]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

The Thais should ask Malaysia to check how many Turkish peoples flew into KL... Easy to get help to cross the border into Sadao... Much easier route than straight to Bangkok..

[MK1]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

Therefore, we expect at least those 20 to be rounded up and to attend a police line-up identification parade in the not too distant future.

[oval]

I for one hope it was some Turkish crazies rather than domestic. More chance it was just a one-off.

[Khonper]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

More than 20 people means that it is more than 20 turkish people, could be anything more.

[Lukecan]

20 is a very unrealistic number, Turkish Airlines has 2 daily flights to Bangkok from Istanbul.

More than 80,000 Turks visit Thailand every year.

Grey Wolves? You gotta be kidding me, these guys were last active in early 90's, they dissapeared together with ASALA. It was a counter terrorist organization funded by the deep state to hunt down ASALA members.

In the last 20 years, there hasnt been a single turk involved in Terrorism. Sure, there are a lot of terrorist attacks carried out in Turkey, but they are carried out by left wing Kurdish militants.

[kiwikeith]

I've thought all along that the bomber was probably a Turk, but just a suspicion based on his appearance and the attack on the Thai embassy in Istanbul.

RTP should have immediately investigated all entries from Muslim countries, and, not just the 15 days prior to the attack, but go back to Dec 2014. Why have they waited so long?

Yes and the police sketch is so bad they have not modified that yet.

Only going back 15 days also a worry, they should have nice pictures of everyone that enters the LOS or dont those cameras you stand in front of when getting a visa work?

[Lukecan]

The sketch looks nothing like a Turkish person, anyone who says it looks like Turk probably has never seen a Turk before.

This is what a typical turk looks like.

[fitzcaraldo]

A photo From yôur private collection i guess

[Broeno]

20 Turks in two weeks is a less expensive group to embarrass than to figure out the real cause. it was reported that the Thai government that there should be no speculation and would initiate action. so far, they do themselves no different. they do this only to camouflage that they have no idea where to look for it by their clumsy investigation. that's not so strange when you clean up the scene of the attack within 24 hours, and British journalists find remnants of the bomb, refuse.

[FredNL]

The RTP can better start a quiz.

Will the real killer now stand up ???

The RTP doesn't know who he is and where he is.

They're only guessing. No proof, no motive, no what !!!

[JAG]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

Don't Turkish Airlines have a daily flight into BKK?

Only 20 people?

What do they use - a Sopwith Camel?

(That caused the predictive text to splutter! )

[alocacoc]

After all the incompetence we learned about the RTP, it would surprise me if the cameras at the airports are working properly. Even when they do, i doubt the digital will saved or someone have access to it. Actually it's a miracle we have internet, electricity and so on.

[glaswegian]

the chances are that there is a country (not a terrorist organisation) ahind all of this, i for one dinna think this was a simple terrorst attack, it was a warning to thailand--- definately more like a well thought plan which was carried out and supported by a country, a country wanting to kill two birds with one stone!, do you think tis jist a coincidence that the cameras alang doon the road the bomber took were not working ?,

[speedtripler]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

80,000 a year is certainly more than 20... Maybe nobody at the police station wanted to count them so they said "more than 20" to be on the safe side

[speedtripler]

The sketch looks nothing like a Turkish person, anyone who says it looks like Turk probably has never seen a Turk before.

This is what a typical turk looks like.

Average looking turk in a Gaybar maybe lol

The turks I know don't look like him..

[speedtripler]

the chances are that there is a country (not a terrorist organisation) ahind all of this, i for one dinna think this was a simple terrorst attack, it was a warning to thailand--- definately more like a well thought plan which was carried out and supported by a country, a country wanting to kill two birds with one stone!, do you think tis jist a coincidence that the cameras alang doon the road the bomber took were not working ?,

Actually, it's been widely stated that cameras are in that condition allover the city... Its lucky they have any image of the bomber

Either unmaintained or just empty cases for the deterrent etc

[Fat Haggis]

Jesus H, I flew into swampy via Istanbul on the 16th, there was more than 20 Turkish passengers on that flight alone!!!!

[MaxLee]

"According to speculation, the group might have been angered by the Thai government's repatriation of Uighur refugees back to China. An arrest warrant has now been issued for a suspected bomber who does not look Thai.

"The speculation simply comes from analyses, each one based on information in the hands of each analyst," national police commissioner Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said."

Yes,.... of course, from a scapegoat hunting fortune teller analyst....

Edited August 27, 2015 by MaxLee

[i claudius]

The sketch looks nothing like a Turkish person, anyone who says it looks like Turk probably has never seen a Turk before.

This is what a typical turk looks like.

You wish

you obviously never been to any of the kebab shops in my old home town ,lol

[Fat Haggis]

only 20? well, that shouldnt be too hard to investigate

Don't Turkish Airlines have a daily flight into BKK?

Only 20 people?

What do they use - a Sopwith Camel?

(That caused the predictive text to splutter! )

I believe they have 2-3 flights a day, the one 10 days ago was full, no empty seats at all, lots of Eastern Europeans as well as Turkish citizens on that flight mate.

[granuaile]

Whenever there are bombings and suicide attacks around the world which religion is usually responsible ?

The Grey Wolves are not motivated by religion, they are extreme nationalists....

[Cardiff1963]

A Hindu shrine?

As soon as I heard of the attack I though of Uighur extremists. I mean, if you want to deal a blow to both Thailand and China isn't the Erawan shrine a logical target?