Police are to issue warrants for the arrest of at least two people suspected of throwing a “ping pong bomb” onto a group of police officers in front of the Chamchuri shopping mall on Saturday, slightly injuring three police and a reporter.
Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said Sunday that it is believed that the perpetrators threw the explosive device from a vehicle on the flyover heading towards Hua Lampong railway station.
He said that the device was similar to the type used on November 25th in front of The Avenue Ratchayothin, following a rally by the Ratsadon protesters.
Police found nails, wire and black electrical tape at the scene of the explosion.
16.00น.หลังถูกนำตัวมาปล่อยที่บางปู ทนายความพา "เยล" หรือมงคล เข้าแจ้งความที่ สภ.เมืองสมุทรปราการ ซึ่งเป็นท้องที่ที่เยลถูกจับตัวเมื่อคืน ระหว่างสอบปากคำ ทนายความได้แจ้ง พงส.ว่า ขอให้ส่งตัวเยลไปตรวจร่างกายและจิตใจ เนื่องจากเยลมีอาการหวาดกลัวอย่างมาก #ม็อบ17มกรา #การ์ดหายตัว
— TLHR / ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน (@TLHR2014) January 17, 2021
Meanwhile, a group of anti-establishment protesters and Ratsadon guards rallied in front of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) head office in Dusit district, to demand the release one of the guards, who has been missing since Saturday night.
After a brief rally, the protesters moved to Phya Thai police station, to seek police help in tracing the missing guard, identified as Mongkol Santimethakul, who was involved in a rally at the Victory Monument on Saturday.
Mr. Pompuen Panpuangkaew, one of the guards, told the media that a man, thought to be an ISOC official, used Mongkol’s cellphone to intimidate the other guards.
ISOC spokesman Maj-Gen Thanathip Sawangsaeng told the media that ISOC had nothing to do with Mongkol’s disappearance because it is not responsible for maintaining peace and order in the city.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) have since reported via their Twitter account that Mongkol has been released in the Bangpoo area. Mongkol and his lawyer went to notify the police at the Muang district police station. The lawyer said Mongkol will be sent for physical and psychological evaluation.
