Police destroy bomb near residence of Thai prime minister

Police explosive experts destroy a bomb hidden in a car near the residence of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and detained a suspect Thursday, police said.

"The bomb experts have destroy the bomb and the car is being towed to a safe place for further checking," police said.

Police detained an army officer, identified as Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, driver of the car whose bore fake license. He was taken to the police Crime Suppression Division for interrogation.

Two sticks of dynamite, each weighing 0.45 kilograms, and some fertilizer were discovered inside the vehicle. The explosives were not yet assembled.

Pol Maj Gen Aswin Khwanmuang, deputy chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, said that 4.5-kilogram bomb was found in the car belonging to Thawatchai.

ITV reported that the vehicle was driven back and forth near Thaksin's residence and a security guard of the prime minister urged police to chase and stop it.

The Nation

Bomb experts defuse explosives hidden in a car that parked in Bangplat district on Thursday. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's motorcades used this route to go to PM's residence.

Photo by Prasert Thepsri

Thaksin sacks Gen Pallop from ISOC

Police charged ISOC's Lieutenant, owner of the car, of possessing explosives without permits.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sacks Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC)'s Deputy Director Gen Pallop Pinmanee after an ISOC officer was arrested for owning a car which has explosives inside near PM's residence.

It is reported that Gen Pallop is informed of the immediate dismissal.

Police bomb experts defused a bomb hidden in a car, owned by Lt Thawatchai Klinchana, of ISOC, near the residence of Thaksin Shinawatra and detained a suspect Thursday.

After interrogation, police charged Thawatchai Klinchana of having in possession explosives without permission. He denied the charge.

Two sticks of dynamite, each weighing 0.45 kilograms and some fertilizer were discovered inside the vehicle.

Police intelligence information showed that the vehicle was driven back and forth near Thaksin's residence and a security guard of the prime minister urged police to chase and stop it.

The Nation

Thaksin holds meeting of top brass

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra holds an urgent meeting of the military top brass and national police chief at Government House following the finding of bomb in a car near his house.

Thaksin held a meeting with the commanders of the three armed forces together with Defence Minister Gen Thamarak Isarangura at 3 pm.

The police chief attended the meeting at 3:30 pm.

Before the meeting with the top brass, Thaksin held a meeting with Gen Winai Phattiyakul, secretary-general of the National Security Council, Pol Col Jumpol Munmai, director of the National Intelligence Agency, Gen Pornchai Kranlert, deputy army chief, and Gen Anupong Paojinda, commander of the First Army Area.

The Nation