Police make arrest in Bangkok bombing case

Authorities in Thailand arrested a man Saturday in connection with the deadly bombing at the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok on Aug. 17. The man, of unknown nationality, was holed up in an apartment in an eastern Bangkok suburb with bomb-making equipment and stacks of passports. The bomb-making materials matched those used in the blast at the shrine, national police spokesman Prawuth Thavornsiri said in a televised statement.

The shrine bombing killed 20 people and injured more than 120 and was followed a day later by another blast at a public ferry pier, which caused no injuries but elevated concerns about safety in the Thai capital.

“Our preliminary investigation shows that he is related to both bombings,” Prawuth said, as he showed photographs of what police seized, including detonators, ball bearings, and a metal pipe that police believe was intended to hold a bomb.

Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung later told reporters that “the bomb materials are the same, similar, or the same type” as those used in both bombings.

Police also found “a number of passports from one country,” Prawuth said. He did not name the country but photographs shown during the televised announcement showed stacks of passports that appeared to be Turkish.

A photograph of the suspect showed a young man with short brown hair and a light beard and mustache.

The police chief ruled out terrorism as a motive for the bombing, saying, “It’s a personal grudge … not international terrorism.” He did not elaborate any further or give a clear explanation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.