Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan this morning dismissed a rumour in the social media of a possible military coup against the Prayut government.

The rumours were spread following the sharing in the social media of a fake announcement allegedly issued by the National Council for Peace and Order relieving commanders of the three armed forces.

Gen Prawit said he has ordered an investigation into the sources of the rumour and the fake announcement.

“There is nothing in it,” said Gen Prawait, who is also defence minister, when asked to comment on the coup rumour.

Both the rumour and the posting of the fake announcement followed a politically tense weekend after the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart Party registered Princess Ubolratana as its candidate for prime minister in the upcoming general election. The move was later objected by HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Defence Ministry’s spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich, meanwhile, said Gen Prawit has instructed all agencies concerned to consider taking legal action against those who were responsible for spreading the rumour and the fake announcement as they were considered to be a violation of the law on computer crime.

The rumour was partly triggered by the presence of several armoured vehicles outside Bangkok yesterday, Lt Gen Kongcheep said the vehicles were being involved in a military exercise.  “Nobody should panic,” he said.