Bangkok Bomb Suspect Arrested

[jimky]

Passport Photo (of) <---> Guy they Caught

Edited August 29, 2015 by jimky

[soistalker]

Him falang. Picture. Him, same same. Brown hair brown eye falang, same same. Thai police follow him long time since they see him in dream, kap. Bomber cannot be Thai. Every police know. Burma man ? Maybe. Maaaayyyybe.

[atsiii]

To me, the big question is: what was the motive?

If the evidence was planted by police to scapegoat another foreigner--who can't defend themselves in Thai courts, then there will be little mention of motive. Just get it done and out of the news. But if this is the real bad guy, one would think they would discover some sort of motive, and perhaps links to others who may have helped. So far, no international group has claimed responsibility--which is unusual. I can't think of any particular problems between Turkey and Thailand that might have motivated, but maybe they exist.

If this is not the real guy, then the perps will feel like they got away with it and you can be sure they will strike again.

If this is the real bad guy, what was the motive?

[jimky]

You're behind on the story. Turkish Uighurs have been the leading theory of foreign media for a long time, and was mentioned in all these threads many times.

Edit to add: In fact, if you wanted to scapegoat someone, having it be Turkish Uighurs would be the perfect choice. The Thai authorities had been saying all along it is not them while foreign media, social media posters etc. have kept it a leading theory. If needing a scapegoat finding someone of eur-asian appearance and connecting them to Turkey would be the ideal choice. (I don't think that is happening here. I'm on the side I think this is all legit, just am responding to your post).

I also don't think it is unusual to the extremes often suggested, regarding terrorist organisations not taking credit.

Edited August 29, 2015 by jimky

[Gutterboy]

Just thinking outside the box. I've just blow the hell out of a public place killing and maiming a lot of people. CCTV catches my escape. I've had days to get the heck out of Dodge. Why I'm I still in my room with a bunch of materials that could be used for bomb making. Personally, especially considering the media was saying there was not a good CCTV coverage, I'd be in a different country, and back to whatever sick terror cell I came from. But no! The "Suspect" stays. Like one of the previous posters said. Wait and see.

Exactly.

[rizla]

My suspects would be local. it is well known that the current chief has pissed of the young students, kerbing their right of free speech against the current goverment....put in jail for speaking out.

they want a voice.

[dontoearth]

I sure hope they're on the right track.

This might sound weird, but from Thailand's POV it would be "better" if the terrorist is related to the Turkish conflict and NOT related to ISIS/Al Queda/South Thailand/red shirts/internal power conflict.

I had thought about this a lot. It did seem all posturing and endless speculation to the media was based on looking for a 'culprit that caused the least embarrassment to the powers that be!" If this suspect turns out to be guilty and was retaliating for the deportations to China last month than the government was able to overcome loss of face and really solve the case. If this is all true. Hooooooooooooorahhhhhh! We will wait and see!

[Lukecan]

My suspects would be local. it is well known that the current chief has pissed of the young students, kerbing their right of free speech against the current goverment....put in jail for speaking out.

they want a voice.

So you're saying they raised their voice by killing 20 innocent people? As much as I hate the racial stance of thais regarding to matters like this, I too don't believe that a Thai national carried out such an attack. Its probably an uyghur.

[lildragon]

I see a whole lot of comparisons to the Koh Tao murders made in this thread.

To me there is a huge difference, KT was a small island community mafia murdering a couple of foreigners and getting away with it due to their 'connections'. In the erawan case, I believe it is an international group of terrorists and the authorities had to actually do their jobs this time, whether anyone was bribed on the way remains to be seen.But this time more countries than just the UK are looking at Thailand (one of them being big brother China) so the Thai authorities HAD to come through, and a couple of patsies just wouldn't of cut the mustard. I believe this guy is involved and important info on the cell behind this bombing.

[NongKhaiKid]

Isn't it indicative of the BIB's abysmal reputation and the total lack of regard for them that an announcement like this is immediately regarded with suspicion and skepticism rather than congratulation ?

[Jingthing]

Isn't it indicative of the BIB's abysmal reputation and the total lack of regard for them that an announcement like this is immediately regarded with suspicion and skepticism rather than congratulation ?

Sure, but it's not like they are saying they got the actual bomber. They aren't saying that. So this is hardly anywhere near over.

[The Dancer]

As someone above pointed out, the perps had 2 weeks to get the 'ell out of Dodge and yet this guy is found pottering around in his apartment knee-deep in bomb paraphernalia. Don't make no sense.

And coming back to the motive for the attack, Uighurs? So, where's the claim of responsibility? They can blow stuff up and kill people but without a public statement it doesn't amount to hill of beans (politically).

I am still going with 1) this guy wasn't involved and 2) there was message sent by the perps that was suppressed by the authorities because it had to do with the military junta/coup etc.

Edited August 29, 2015 by The Dancer

[mcfish]

As someone above pointed out, the perps had 2 weeks to get the 'ell out of Dodge and yet this guy is found pottering around in his apartment knee-deep in bomb paraphernalia. Don't make no sense.

And coming back to the motive for the attack, Uighurs? So, where's the claim of responsibility? They can blow stuff up and kill people but without a public statement it doesn't amount to hill of beans (politically).

I am still going with 1) this guy wasn't involved and 2) there was message sent by the perps that was suppressed by the authorities because it had to do with the military junta/coup etc.

It makes perfect sense. The second that bomb went off, airports and border checks would have gone high alert and not the best time to be traveling on that dodgy passport.

There he is with a pack of ball bearings in that pic suggests to me there is a strong chance he felt safe and now ready for another bomb

Edited August 30, 2015 by metisdead

[jaidam]

This is fishy

They discredit themself again

Didnt know google images search?

http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/637626435763507204

Lost amongst the nonsense was this little gem. Proof that the "evidence" photos were pure BS. Observers of Somyot and the RTP expected nothing less than this sort of investigation, shame on the chorus of praisers of the worlds most corrupt organization.

[Lite Beer]

BANGKOK BLAST
Bomb suspect held
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- Man, 28, had fake Turkish passport, bomb materials in his room; police believe he was part of shrine attack

A FOREIGN man holding a Turkish passport was arrested yesterday in Bangkok's eastern suburbs in connection with the Erawan Shrine bomb attack.

A joint force of police and military officers made the arrest at Poon Anand Apartments in Nong Chok district.

A search of his rented apartment found a large quantity of materials used for making explosives, including ball bearings the same size as those used in the bomb at Erawan Shrine on August 17 and another bomb that went off near Sathorn Pier without causing casualties the following day.

Also found in the suspect's room were fuses, short steel pipes with caps on both sides, and clothes with traces of explosive substances. A thorough search and examination of the suspect's rented apartments continued until last night, a television report said.

"We believe that the suspect was involved with the bombing" at the shrine, Royal Thai Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said on a live televised broadcast last evening. He also said the suspect "looks like the one we are looking for".

Prawut said clothes and bomb-making material found in the detained man's room were linked to the shrine attack as well as the blast at Sathorn Pier. "The ball bearing is the same size" as those found at the two blast sites.

About 100 police and military officers - including at least a dozen bomb disposal specialists - gathered outside the apartment block where the man was arrested in possession of bomb-making equipment and multiple passports. Police and military personnel cordoned off the four-storey budget apartment from scores of media and onlookers, and the arrested man could not be seen.

The blast at the city shrine was the worst ever. It killed 20 people dead injured more than 100 others.

The suspect, aged 28, holds a Turkish passport under the name Adem Karadag. According to the passport, he is from Istanbul. However, Prawut said the passport was fake.

The man was accompanied out of his apartment under heavy escort by troops and police, as many people gathered in the area after hearing about the arrest. The suspect was detained for questioning at an unspecified military camp.

Yesterday's arrest was the first in connection with the Erawan Shrine bombing.

Police acted on a tip from the landlord who owned the apartment that the suspect was renting, according to a police source who declined to be named. The landlord grew suspicious because the suspect did not speak Thai and rented five rooms on the same floor of the apartment building, since late July. Local residents told reporters that the suspect had been living in the apartment for two weeks before the Erawan blast.

Deputy national police chief General Jaktip Chaijinda said it was "not yet clear" whether the man is the same one in security-camera images taken on the evening of blast.

Police have been hunting for a prime suspect, described as a foreign man, who was captured on security cameras wearing a yellow t-shirt and leaving a bag at the shrine moments before the blast.

National police chief General Somyot Poompunmuang became obviously annoyed yesterday when a reporter asked him if the arrested man happened to be a scapegoat. He said such a question was "not constructive".

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bomb-suspect-held-30267739.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-30

[DeepInTheForest]

"Police acted on a tip from the landlord who owned the apartment that the suspect was renting, according to a police source who declined to be named. The landlord grew suspicious because the suspect did not speak Thai and rented five rooms on the same floor of the apartment building, since late July. Local residents told reporters that the suspect had been living in the apartment for two weeks before the Erawan blast."

So... one wonders how long it took for the apartment owner to report this... ? And how long for police to act... ?

[alanrchase]

As someone above pointed out, the perps had 2 weeks to get the 'ell out of Dodge and yet this guy is found pottering around in his apartment knee-deep in bomb paraphernalia. Don't make no sense.

And coming back to the motive for the attack, Uighurs? So, where's the claim of responsibility? They can blow stuff up and kill people but without a public statement it doesn't amount to hill of beans (politically).

I am still going with 1) this guy wasn't involved and 2) there was message sent by the perps that was suppressed by the authorities because it had to do with the military junta/coup etc.

If the "perps" were dumb enough to only have contact details for the junta to get their message out they may well have been dumb enough to hang around.

[JAG]

Renting multiple rooms in the same block in a Muslim area of the city is suspicious. Having multiple fake Turkish passports is more than suspicious. I wander if this fellow was part of a set up to move Uighurs fleeing China to Turkey? Some sort of underground route would have become necessary once Thailand started returning them to China.

The Chinese security services would probably have known about it. I don't suppose they would mind on what pretext it was closed down.

This chap would have been in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Just a thought....

[Fairynuff]

I really want to believe it...but let's face it, on past form...... Hope I'm wrong

[mikemac]

Renting multiple rooms in the same block in a Muslim area of the city is suspicious. Having multiple fake Turkish passports is more than suspicious. I wander if this fellow was part of a set up to move Uighurs fleeing China to Turkey? Some sort of underground route would have become necessary once Thailand started returning them to China.

The Chinese security services would probably have known about it. I don't suppose they would mind on what pretext it was closed down.

This chap would have been in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Just a thought....

Your comment makes a lot of sense JAG, renting multiple rooms, passports etc, but it is also possible that he is connected with the bombing.

If he is found guilty of the bombing it sounds like there will be a lot of disappointed posters on TVF. Many of them would rather be bagging the RTP for their incompetence, than praising them for solving this latest crime.

[metisdead]

Troll posts, inflammatory posts, posts using all caps, and others have been removed.

[Keira1]

Just a thought: he was a stuck in Bkk, didn't dare to move out from his area, didn't imagine that his face would be all over Thailand. Getting more and more desperate, -and who knows, maybe some of his accomplices let him down because things didn't go as planned- maybe even considering suicide (just a thought of course) or any other way of escape, but not knowing where to go, what to do...?

[berybert]

There was a taxi driver who claims he drove the bomber the same route several days in a row.

Any chance the RTP might ask him if it's the same person ?

[elektrified]

Cant see this guy being the actual bomber somehow, that ones long gone unless hes a lone nutcase doing his thing

I can see him being one of a small group though.

Now for the made up rubbish and the usual merry go round from papers and police.

As for the RTP you can bet 99% it was probably a tip off not good police work.

from BBC World

" A reward of one million baht ($28,000; £17,950) was offered for information but it is not known whether this played a part in Saturday's arrest. "

The reward was upped to 3 million THB + 7 million THB from Taksin's son. Total $10 million THB.

[DrTuner]

This is fishy

They discredit themself again

Didnt know google images search?

http://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/637626435763507204

Lost amongst the nonsense was this little gem. Proof that the "evidence" photos were pure BS. Observers of Somyot and the RTP expected nothing less than this sort of investigation, shame on the chorus of praisers of the worlds most corrupt organization.

Reeks like the standard issue RTP setup. And stupid enough to use photos that can be found with a simple Google image search.

[JAG]

Renting multiple rooms in the same block in a Muslim area of the city is suspicious. Having multiple fake Turkish passports is more than suspicious. I wander if this fellow was part of a set up to move Uighurs fleeing China to Turkey? Some sort of underground route would have become necessary once Thailand started returning them to China.

The Chinese security services would probably have known about it. I don't suppose they would mind on what pretext it was closed down.

This chap would have been in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Just a thought....

Your comment makes a lot of sense JAG, renting multiple rooms, passports etc, but it is also possible that he is connected with the bombing.

If he is found guilty of the bombing it sounds like there will be a lot of disappointed posters on TVF. Many of them would rather be bagging the RTP for their incompetence, than praising them for solving this latest crime.

True enough, it just seems (to me at least) strange that the bomber were switched on enough to cover their tracks by switching vehicles, wearing disguises etc, made no claims of responsibility, yet were silly enough to leave bomb making kit lying around!

I too would like to believe that the RTP have solved this. You are I suspect wise enough in the ways of this astonishing country to understand my skepticism. The hard line RTP bashers would have been in denial if a traffic cop had knocked the escaping bomber off the motorcycle 30 seconds after the explosion! This just seems too neat, and I don't buy into the theory that all the high level buffoonery was a bluff to lull the bomber into a false sense of security!

I don't suppose we will ever know for certain.

Edited August 30, 2015 by JAG

[DrTuner]

Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow 2m2 minutes ago

Passports found at apartment

these are old Turkish passports, and they are out of use since 2010 in Turkey

If the issue date was 2009 would they not be valid until 2019?

There are some that might have a printed expiration date that has not yet passed, but they are no longer valid. 24 November 2014 was the final date to change the passport by. They are useless for entry into any country after that date.

Edit to add: they were also useless for many purposes long before that date too.

The guys at khao sarn seem to be using the old template then.

[Smurkster]

I take back what I wrote earlier about there not being a possible motive for Turks to do this. However I really really find it very unsettling that after the arrest a police official again said something to the effect of "we know the perpetrator wasn't Thai, because a Thai couldn't do something like this" exactly what was said after the Brits being killed in Koh Tao. I and I know many other find that very disturbing and questionable...

[Fullstop]

The arrest was made after about 100 police and troops surrounded the apartment at at 1:30 pm.

It's a given fact that Thai cops are inept ... but needing 100 to arrest one man? Hilarious.

[Tanlic]

To me, the big question is: what was the motive?

If the evidence was planted by police to scapegoat another foreigner--who can't defend themselves in Thai courts, then there will be little mention of motive. Just get it done and out of the news. But if this is the real bad guy, one would think they would discover some sort of motive, and perhaps links to others who may have helped. So far, no international group has claimed responsibility--which is unusual. I can't think of any particular problems between Turkey and Thailand that might have motivated, but maybe they exist.

If this is not the real guy, then the perps will feel like they got away with it and you can be sure they will strike again.

If this is the real bad guy, what was the motive?

Give yourself peace with this scapegoat rubbish.

National police chief General Somyot Poompunmuang became obviously annoyed yesterday when a reporter asked him if the arrested man happened to be a scapegoat. He said such a question was "not constructive".

Can't you just accept that the Thai Police have done a great job apprehending this scumbag.

The photokit was spot on as far as I can see when you allow for the fact the guy probably hasn't eaten or slept for a week in fear of being caught.

If you care to read what has been said his motive was personal.

Like all good investigators they are not prepared to commit to definite statements until they know the whole truth.

Nothing unusual about that.