THE loud blast-like sound heard in front of Myanmar embassy on Sathorn road last evening was actually a large firecracker ball wrapped in plastic that caused a low-intensity explosion but no fragments were found and also no one got injured, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 9).
Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra said police are now tracking down the perpetrators but at the time of the firecracker explosion there were no Myanmar nationals in the vicinity so it would be Thais.
However he could not confirm whether this blast is linked to the throwing of a ping pong bomb at protesters in Samyan area during a protest there mid-January. Nonetheless the evidence at the two scenes differ with fragments having been found after the earlier blast.
While this time it was a firecracker and not a bomb, those who set it off can still be prosecuted for making a loud noise that frightened the public.
Pol Lt Gen Phukphong added the police are maintaining normal security at the Myanmar embassy even though the neighbouring country is currently rocked by protests after the staging of a coup.
He also mentioned that three suspects had been charged over the Samyan blast while evidence is being collected and examined about those who arranged the protest there that day.
Asked about the People’s Party arranging to gather in front of MBK shopping mall at 5 p.m. tomorrow, the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief said as the emergency decree is still in effect it is necessary to stop any activities that risk the spread of Covid-19. But police will act properly with the public urged to cooperate in not violating the law by spreading coronavirus.
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Top and Home Page: Riot police and WeVo guards clashing on Sathorn road in front the Myanmar embassy during an anti-coup protest there on Feb 1. Photos: Siam Rath
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