The fatal bomb blast at an apartment in Nonthaburi justifies extension of emergency rule in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says.
Militants are bent on committing acts of sabotage in the capital, Mr Suthep said yesterday in response to a question in parliament by Puea Thai Party MP Wicharn Meechainant.
The deputy prime minister said emergency rule allowed security authorities to work more efficiently when the capital was under threat.
Mr Wicharn demanded to know on what basis the government extended emergency rule. He also questioned the effectiveness of the law after a spate of recent bomb threats and attacks.
Mr Suthep said militants were attempting to cause unrest in the city and the apartment blast on Tuesday evening justified the government’s extended enforcement of emergency rule.
“We found unexploded bombs [at the apartment],” Mr Suthep told the House.
“It is a clear indication that people are attempting to cause trouble.
“The government needs to enforce the special law because ordinary laws aren’t enough to contain the situation.”
The Bang Bua Thong apartment blast killed four people including the suspected bomber, Chiang Mai resident Samai Wongsuwan, and left nine others injured.
Police last night found an assault rifle, four rocket-propelled grenades and a grenade launcher at a shophouse close to an old office of the Puea Thai Party in Bang Rak district.
Pol Lt Col Kamthon Ouicharoen, of the Patrol and Special Operation Division, said the shophouse owner found the weapons in a rented room at 8.45pm.
The owner stopped by last night to inspect the room, long ago abandoned by tenants, and alerted police when he found the weapons.
He said Bang Rak police were taking charge of the investigation.
Earlier in the day, a hand grenade had been found in a pile of garbage in Soi Prachachuen 31 in Bang Sue district.
A food shop worker spotted the device while taking the garbage out and alerted police.
Pol Col Natthawat Kandee, superintendent of Prachachuen police station, said the grenade contained no explosive charge.
He said the device was unlikely to be part of a bomb scare and was not intended to threaten Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri whose house is about 400 metres from where the garbage was found.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday fingerprints taken from the severed arm of the fourth body found in the Nonthaburi apartment bombing match those of key suspect Samai.
Police have fingerprints on record of Samai after the militant red shirt was arrested last year in Chiang Mai.
Pol Maj Gen Prawut said materials needed to make bombs were not restricted substances and are widely available.
