Turkish connections

03 กันยายน 2558

The arrest warrants issued so far in the Erawan shrine bombing point strongly to Turkish and Uighur connections.

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National police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri shows a sketch of one of the eight suspects for whom arrest warrants have been issued. Most of them likely have Turkish connections. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

Turkish link to Erawan blast firms up

More warrants issued as suspect web grows

Wassana Nanuam, Wassayos Ngamkham & Achara Ashayagachat

A Turkish connection to the Erawan shrine bombing hardened yesterday when the Min Buri provincial court issued a warrant for the arrest of a Turkish national for illegal possession of war materials.

The new suspect was identified as Emrah Davutoglu, a Turkish national and the husband of Wanna Suansan, the only Thai and only female suspect in the Erawan and Sathon pier bombings, according to national police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri.

Police investigators said Ms Wanna rented a room at the Maimuna Garden Home apartments in Bangkok's Min Buri district where police at the weekend confiscated urea-based fertiliser and other items that can be used to make bombs.

Ms Wanna, also known by her Muslim name, Maisaroh, and Mr Davutoglu are reportedly in Turkey.

On Tuesday, arrest warrants were issued for three other suspects linked to the bombings, with at least one of them, Ahmet Bozonglan, identified as Turkish.

Mr Bozonglan rented five rooms at the Pool Anant apartment in Nong Chok district where authorities discovered a cache of bomb-making materials, investigators said.

Mr Davutoglu's warrant has brought the total number of arrest warrants to eight. Ms Wanna's warrant was issued on Monday. She has denied all charges.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said police have coordinated with Turkish authorities but have not yet received any further information about Ms Wanna, who reportedly got in touch with authorities via social media.

Meanwhile, forensic results have confirmed that the fingerprints of the latest detained suspect match those found on a bomb-making item found in Room 414 at Pool Anant apartments.

The man was apprehended by police at the Thai-Cambodian border and taken to Bangkok for questioning on Tuesday.

A police spokesman said the man is suspected of either assembling or planting explosives, and evidence and witness examination will help police determine exactly what role he played. The suspect is likely to have knowledge about bomb-making, the spokesman said.

According to sources, the suspect admitted that he was near the Ratchaprasong area when the bomb exploded on Aug 17 but he denied any involvement.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda said the suspect speaks Turkish.

He said it was normal for suspects to limit their cooperation with police but investigators would rely on other evidence to prove their alleged involvement.

Asked if the suspect was Uighur, Pol Gen Chakthip said: "He is according to his apparent passport, but we are still waiting for verification that the passport is genuine."

The deputy chief gave assurances that police are on the right track.

"This is progressing faster than other cases. It took 14 to 15 days for police to get a break," he said.

A source at the Metropolitan Police Bureau said police and soldiers conducted a raid Wednesday evening on a company in Silom Road over work permits.

The police are understood to have obtained information that the firm was involved in issuing work permits to predominantly Turkish clientele who wanted to enter and study in Thailand.

The source said the Turkish husband of Ms Wanna, Mr Davutoglu, was involved in bringing several of his countrymen into Thailand.

Another military source said soldiers had detained a Thai man from Narathiwat for questioning after evidence suggested he was connected to Mr Davutoglu. He is currently being held at the 11th Military Circle.