Bangkok blast: Police have DNA, other results

[webfact]

BANGKOK BLAST
Police have DNA, other results
Pensri Gaden
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- POLICE have obtained DNA test results from banknotes the Erawan Shrine bomb suspect gave to a tuk-tuk driver, as well as DNA test results from a taxi he travelled in. Meanwhile, the court has approved an arrest warrant for the person who allegedly lobbed a bomb at Sathorn Pier.

We can't disclose details [of the test results] yet as it may affect ongoing investigations," assistant national police chief Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said yesterday.

On August 17, the suspect hailed the taxi on Rama IV Road and travelled to Hua Lamphong train station late in the afternoon. He later got into a tuk-tuk in front of the train station, got off at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, and walked into the Erawan Shrine with a backpack.

He then left the backpack there and walked away - minutes before an explosion rocked the shrine, causing 20 deaths and injuring more than 100 others. Police located drivers of the tuk-tuk and the taxi. Latent fingerprints were found in the taxi.

National police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang said the investigation was progressing, as police were working very hard.

Police are also looking into an explosion near Sathorn Pier on August 18 that caused no casualties.

Prawut said examination of phone-signal-usage records at the two blast sites did not provide links to suspects. "We believe the suspects may have used an Internet connection for communications," he said.

In a related development, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said he had received four more reports on the Grey Wolves, a right-wing organisation based in Turkey, which a security analsyt named as the most likely perpetrator.

Suwaphan said the reports differed from what Jane's analyst Tony Davis told a forum at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on Monday night.

Davis said the Grey Wolves might have done the attack as revenge for Thailand's deportation of more than 100 Uighurs to China in July, as the Grey Wolves have taken up the Uighur cause.

"We are listening. We are looking at all clues. But we have also received some other pieces of information," Suwaphan said without elaborating.

Meanwhile, The bomb attack at Erawan Shrine on August 17 killed 20 people and injured more than 100 others. On the following day, Turkey's Foreign Minister sent a message of condolences to his counterpart in Thailand on the day after the bomb. In the message, the Turkish Foreign Minister offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and conveyed Turkey's strong condemnation of this act of terror and its resolute stance in the fight against terrorism."Turkey stands strongly against all kinds of terrorist acts, regardless of its source, origin and motive. Turkey continues to fight against terrorism," the message said. As for speculation linking Turkish citizens to the attack, Turkey conveyed its stand against terrorism to the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara and expressed its readiness to cooperate if they have any concrete information. The embassy has contacted Thailand's Foreign Ministry on the subject.

"In the light of all these, we follow with deep regret the speculative analyses and news reports trying to link Turkish citizens to the Erawan Shrine bomb attack and reiterate our solidarity with Thailand and our readiness to cooperate with Thai authorities," the statement read.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-have-DNA-other-results-30267630.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-28

[daveAustin]

Thai police + DNA? hahahaha

[davehowden]

" Latent fingerprints were found in the taxi."

Now who would have expected to find fingerprints in a taxi ???

[EricBerg]

RTP are producing air in this case only. They don't seem to be bothered by their own incompetence at all.

[NOC]

There is no way in hell these pinheads are going to accurately pinpoint a suspect, based on DNA, on a banknote that has been mixed with other notes, in the pocket of a Bangkok tuk tuk driver. Any attempt to hang this on a patsy, a reasonable person would conclude, will bring about one serious negative and international backlash! Man up Thailand! Admit your failures!

[BSJ]

DNA on bank notes.....how good is that!

[LomSak27]

Sure they do, but does it mean anything?! Fingerprints and DNA from a tuk tuk and a baht bill. It could be the bomber or hundreds of other innocent people who handled the cash or put their hands on the tuk. No way to tell until they get a suspect from other means of identification, then cross check it.

As todays op/ed piece talked about. This is a news release signifying nothing but trying to reassure the public that something is being done.

[NCC1701A]

DNA results just in. Asian male.

[thesetat2013]

DNA results just in. Asian male.

You mean a Burmy Asian male don't you?

[arthurboy]

Given that most people carry small denomination notes, and that they are used and circulated quickly, I'm surprised the tuk tuk driver put these particular notes to one side and could link them to the suspect so readily.

Does he separate notes out by customer in some kind of complex indexed filing system?

And given the time between the pick up and the tuk tuk driver coming forward, it's odd he hadn't passed on these specific notes in the meantime.

Edited August 28, 2015 by arthurboy

[Somtamnication]

This just in: RTP grasping at straws

[NongKhaiKid]

" Latent fingerprints were found in the taxi."

Now who would have expected to find fingerprints in a taxi ???

And who found them, BIB or the driver ?

[Lantern]

If I was not watching this unfold before my own eyes I simply wouldn't believe the incompetence.

The eyes of the world are on them and looks like they do not care.

[cmsally]

How in hell's name does he remember who gave him which notes. Simply impossible. Then of course the sheer number of people that handle any note.

[johna]

This news is for local consumption, Thai's care and know little of the outside world.

[tom21]

may of been the only customer the tuk tuk had that day so he know where the note came from. I can say that with a straight face.

[EnglishJohn]

Today: Police found DNA and fingerprint evidence on a tuk-tuk and taxi.

Tomorrow: Police arrested a tuk-tuk driver and a taxi driver saying they have 100% proof they are behind the bomb.

[SABloke]

How in hell's name does he remember who gave him which notes. Simply impossible. Then of course the sheer number of people that handle any note.

He doesn't....he does, however, remember the day a reward was offered. Am I cynical....no not at all

[GanDoonToonPet]

The problem with stupid people who think they are clever is, they are not clever enough to realise how stupid they are & too stupid to realise how clever everyone else is.

[alanferdi]

Thai police + DNA? hahahaha

Why are you laughing.... DNA simply means DO NOT ASK!

[Fat Haggis]

and in another thread the police are saying it's a crime to spread false information.. you just can't make this shit up, just another day in paradise indeed!!

[h90]

Thai police + DNA? hahahaha

Now they only need to catch a Burmese. Than they can publish the DNA evidence.....

[AyG]

Tomorrow: Police arrested a tuk-tuk driver and a taxi driver saying they have 100% proof they are behind the bomb.

No way. Both are professions reserved only for Thai people. Must be a foreigner. Where are all the Burmese scapegoats when you need them?

[MZurf]

Due to popular demand:

[DavisH]

How in hell's name does he remember who gave him which notes. Simply impossible. Then of course the sheer number of people that handle any note.

He doesn't....he does, however, remember the day a reward was offered. Am I cynical....no not at all

"reward leading to the capture of....." Hopefully the government does NOT pay anyone until the bomber is arrested.

[dotpoom]

Do the knockers never get tired of ....knocking ....or is it just a way of relieving inner frustrations they may be harbouring. Try going to visit a sick person in a hospital, you'd be surprised how different that will make you feel afterwards. Positive thinking and action produces positive results.....on the other hand ...negative etc., etc., etc., ...Or one could always go back home where the authorities just simply plant the evidence rather than bother looking for it.

Edited August 28, 2015 by dotpoom

[ronthai]

Same as Koh Tao, time for an escape goat.

[rethaier]

DNA from banknotes and taxi touched by god knows how many people. What a joke. The RTP are so stupid that they think they are smart.

[rethaier]

Do the knockers never get tired of ....knocking ....or is it just a way of relieving inner frustrations they may be harbouring. Try going to visit a sick person in a hospital, you'd be surprised how different that will make you feel afterwards. Positive thinking and action produces positive results.....on the other hand ...negative etc., etc., etc., ...Or one could always go back home where the authorities just simply plant the evidence rather than bother looking for it.

You are deluded if you think Thailand has a competent police force. Oh, and all of the articles I read about planted evidence is done by the RTP.

[NextStationBangkok]

Thai Police statement is like playing Ladder Snake game, after they reach to 75 on board, in the next roll, they will be back to ZERO!