Explosion at National Theatre: People urged to wait for official statement regarding Monday incident

[webfact]

People urged to wait for official statement regarding Monday incident

 

BANGKOK, 17 May 2017 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted that the government did not try to conceal information from the public regarding the incident on Monday night. 

Gen Prayut said even though the situation in the country remains calm, there are a few ill-intentioned individuals waiting to instigate chaos. The premier also urged people to look out for each other and report to the authorities if they see anything unusual. 

Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said people should wait for an official statement from the police to learn what really happened in front of the National Theatre. 

He added all governmental agencies nationwide had been instructed to monitor all CCTV cameras to ensure public safety as there may be a group of people trying to cause a disturbance in an attempt to discredit the government. 

While the investigation is still underway, the Office of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up more security checkpoints around Sanam Luang. More surveillance cameras have also been installed in risk-prone streets and in places within the 2-kilometer radius of Sanam Luang.

 

-- nnt 2017-05-17

[lovelomsak]

What incident is this article about ?

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

Quote

Explosion at National Theatre

It has already been upgraded from a case of pla ra indigestion to and explosion? That was quick.

[AGareth2]

funny how these cameras are working but not the ones in the royal plaza last month

[pee paub]

First response I read in the paper to which we cannot link was, "Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Sanit Mahathavorn said the object that injured two women on Monday was not an explosive device and urged people not to panic."

 

Khaosod English said this: 

Chanasongkram police station chief Col. Pitak Sutthikul said two people suffered minor injuries. He said the explosion was caused by lighting equipment failure, not a bomb.

“I can confirm to you that this is not a bomb attack,” Pitak said by telephone Monday night.

 

Next came this (from Khaosodenglish): 

 A police source said Tuesday a timer device commonly used in pipe bombs was found at the site of last night’s explosion that wounded two people in Bangkok’s historic quarter.

The development undercut the shifting claims made by police brass that the incident, which took place at a particularly sensitive spot opposite a royal landmark where funerary rites for His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol are being prepare, was not a bomb attack.

A source within police bomb squad, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the timer was missed in the first sweep of the crime scene and only spotted later “five or six meters away.”

 

And now:  
"Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said people should wait for an official statement from the police to learn what really happened in front of the National Theatre." 

Edited May 17, 2017 by pee paub
Added Col. Pitak's statement.

[PETERTHEEATER]

No, it was 'gas pressure inside the PVC pipe' that was reported yesterday. But it was not explained how a gas was injected under pressure into what appears to be small diameter 'blue pipe' formed into a TEE on which to hang a sign,

[Bill Miller]

5 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

What incident is this article about ?

Report of either a small explosion, or a sign falling, or something.
It did involve two injuries, so requires investigation.

[pee paub]

32 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

No, it was 'gas pressure inside the PVC pipe' that was reported yesterday. But it was not explained how a gas was injected under pressure into what appears to be small diameter 'blue pipe' formed into a TEE on which to hang a sign,

What do you mean "No"? If you read all the report, after the chief Sanit statement I quoted, the article continues, "Explosive ordnance disposal police inspecting the scene found no traces of gunpowder. They believed the loud bangs came from an old PVC pipe that exploded due to high pressure." I didn't see any need to quote the entire article. Sanit said what he said, and the story then evolved as I said.

[anon4637435435]

In other words.. wait for a more convincing story

[wealthychef]

Dang, they are investigating.  In Thailand, I think there are two normal modes of police operation:  arrest and convict, or investigate and cover up.  We will never know now.